Tagging requirements for cattle
To meet your current Animal Health Board (AHB) requirements and prepare for NAIT becoming mandatory, we encourage you to tag newborn calves now with a NAIT-approved radio frequency identification device (RFID) ear tag.
It is much easier to tag cattle when they are young and will save you from re-tagging older animals when NAIT is mandatory. Tagging now will save time and effort in the future.
The following cattle tagging rules were updated on 13 Setember 2011. Click here for a printable version of these rules.
From 1 November 2011 to 1 July 2012
(applies to all cattle aged over 30 days)
Moving cattle to slaughter
Use either an AHB-approved tag or a NAIT-approved radio frequency identification device (RFID) tag. Alternatively, a direct-to-slaughter tag can be used as a primary tag.
Moving cattle for sale or grazing
Use either an AHB-approved tag or a NAIT-approved radio frequency identification device (RFID) tag as the primary tag, and an AHB-approved secondary tag.
Cattle remaining on your property
There is no current legal requirement to tag.
Bobby calves (less than 30-days-old and going direct to slaughter)
Use a tag issued by your meat processing company.
From 1 July 2012
(applies to all cattle of any age)
Moving cattle to slaughter
Use a NAIT-approved primary radio frequency identification device (RFID) tag.
Moving cattle for sale or grazing
Both a NAIT-approved primary radio frequency identification device (RFID) tag and an approved secondary tag (of a type currently approved under the AHB scheme) are required.
Cattle remaining on your property
A NAIT-approved primary radio frequency identification device (RFID) tag is required.
Capital stock have a three-year exemption period for NAIT-approved RFID tags, unless being moved off-farm. Newborns must be tagged within 180 days of birth, or before their first off-farm movement.
Bobby calves (less than 30-days-old and going direct to slaughter)
Use a tag issued by your meat processing company. A NAIT-approved RFID tag is not required.
