A 71 year old man from Clarkefield in Victoria pleaded guilty in the Broadmeadows Magistrates Court to dispatching 10 cattle without being properly identified with National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) tags, in a consignment of 19 cattle to a Victorian Saleyard.

The farmer was fined $400 plus costs of $2579.

Victoria’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Charles Milne said the outcome provided a timely reminder for farmers of the importance of meeting their legal obligations to identify their livestock.

“The NLIS is Australia’s system for identifying and tracking beef and dairy cattle and is integral to providing and maintaining consumer confidence, at home and overseas, in the quality and safety of our beef and dairy products,” Dr Milne said.

“The NLIS enables cattle to be reliably identified and tracked from their property of birth to slaughter.”

“Compliance with the system protects the reputation of Victoria’s cattle industry as a supplier of ‘clean’ wholesome beef and dairy products, providing a competitive advantage in domestic and export markets.”

The magistrate stated the NLIS is an important system and that the farmer in this case had accepted he had done the wrong thing.

Non-compliance with the legislation is a serious offence in that the consequences of non-compliance can result in real and far-reaching economic and market impacts.

“The traceability benefits of electronically tagging production animals would be invaluable should there be an emergency animal disease or residue incident, that’s why the department enforces mandatory use of NLIS e-tags in the cattle industry.”

Source: Victoria State Govenment. More information about the NLIS can be found at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/NLIS.