ID scheme becoming mandatory
If you are a lifestyler or have a block of land out of town running cattle or deer – animals for which you are responsible – you will have obligations under the National Animal Identification and Tracing scheme, set to become mandatory for cattle from July 1 this year.
Deer join the scheme from March 2013.
‘‘While commercial beef, dairy and deer farmers are largely up to speed with what the NAIT scheme is about, anecdotal evidence tells us that not all lifestylers are,’’ said NAIT chief executive Russell Burnard.
‘‘Lifestylers have an important role in the success of the NAIT scheme even though the number of cattle and deer on lifestyle blocks is relatively small.’’
The NAIT scheme will provide reliable up-to-date information on individual animal sites and movements. To be able to trace animals that may be at risk in the event of a biosecurity threat, the scheme’s central database needs to have a record of all animals.
‘‘The NAIT scheme will improve New Zealand’s response in the event of a biosecurity threat and help our ability to resume trade quickly. This will help protect New Zealand’s reputation in overseas markets,’’ Mr Burnard said. you can do this now.
Get your NAIT number by registering yourself and your farm or property with NAIT – you can do this from next month.
Register cattle and deer with NAIT – you will be able to do this from July.
Record all off-farm movements of cattle with NAIT – you can start doing this from July.
Record all deaths and losses of cattle or deer with NAIT – you can start doing this from July.
Once NAIT becomes mandatory any cattle or deer lifestylers and farmers buy should have NAIT- approved RFID tags and an official secondary tag.
People responsible for cattle and deer on lifestyle blocks and farms will need to record any off-farm cattle movements with NAIT, unless they are to a NAITaccredited meat processor or a Nait-accredited sale yard.
Lifestylers and farmers are now able to buy Nait-approved RFID ear tags from usual rural services suppliers.
For calves and fawns born from now on, a Nait-approved RFID ear tag can be used as the primary tag for all off-farm animal movements, other than to slaughter.
For existing stock, a NAITapproved RFID ear tag can now be used as an optional primary tag for animals of all ages to ensure compliance when the NAIT scheme becomes mandatory in July. An approved secondary tag is also required.
Tagging cattle and deer with Nait-approved radio frequency identification device ear tags and registering these animals with NAIT. Tagging has been under way on a voluntary basis for more than two years with about 40 per cent of New Zealand’s national cattle and deer herd (4.5 million animals) already tagged with Nait-approved ear tags.
Registering places where cattle and deer are kept with NAIT, together with the contact details of the person in charge of the animals creates a NAIT number which will be used as the identifier for animal movements. Farmers and lifestylers will be able to start registering on a voluntary basis from February 2012.
Recording the movements of individual animals from one site to another and reporting to NAIT all deaths, losses or exports of live cattle or deer to NAIT. Once the NAIT legislation is passed, farmers and lifestylers who manage cattle will need to do this from July 1, 2012.
Farmers, lifestylers and anyone in charge of cattle or deer will either be able to fulfil the registration and reporting functions of the NAIT scheme themselves, or will have the option to delegate some or all of their NAIT obligations to NAITaccredited organisations such as farm management companies, saleyards, and meat processors.
For many, movement recording will be done for them by these organisations. For example, it is estimated that 80 per cent of beef cattle movements are to saleyards and meat processors.