Deer farmers

NAIT will be mandatory for deer on 1 March 2013. To comply with NAIT you need to:

  • tag your deer with orange NAIT-approved radio frequency identification device (RFID) ear tags - you can do this now
  • get your NAIT number by registering yourself and your farm or property with NAIT - you can do this now online, by phoning 0800 624 843 or by using a NAIT-accredited information provider (once they are approved). Ask your local livestock company, meat processor or rural services provider if they can help
  • register your deer with NAIT - you can do this from mid-2012
  • record all off-farm movements of deer with NAIT
  • record all deaths, losses or exports of live deer with NAIT.

When NAIT becomes mandatory for deer, you will need to:

  • tag all deer moving off-farm with an orange NAIT-approved radio frequency identification device (RFID) primary ear tag (including direct to slaughter) and a secondary ear tag (of a type currently approved under the AHB scheme), for all off-farm movements other than to slaughter
  • tag stock already tagged with an AHB-approved primary and secondary tag with a NAIT-approved RFID ear tag. Do not remove existing AHB-approved tags. (Capital stock have a three-year exemption period for NAIT-approved RFID tags, unless being moved off-farm)
  • record any off-farm cattle movements with NAIT, unless they are to a NAIT-accredited meat processor or a NAIT-accredited sale yard.

Get ready for NAIT before it is mandatory

To prepare for NAIT becoming mandatory, we encourage you to tag newborn deer now with a NAIT-approved radio frequency identification device (RFID) ear tag (those destined for slaughter before 1 March 2013 do not need to be tagged).

It is much easier to tag young animals and will mean avoiding re-tagging older animals when NAIT becomes mandatory. Tagging now will save time and effort in the future.

Continue to tag your deer according to the current AHB tagging requirements. Use an approved primary and an approved secondary tag for all movements other than to slaughter, and an AHB-approved (barcode) tag or direct-to-slaughter tag for slaughter movements. A NAIT-approved RFID tag may be used as an approved secondary tag.

You are currently able to buy orange NAIT-approved RFID ear tags for deer from your rural services supplier.