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Cattle – Entry Requirements for Victoria

Identification requirements

All cattle entering Victoria require an approved National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) device and to be accompanied by a completed National Vendor Declaration (NVD). It is the responsibility of the receiving property owner to notify the NLIS database of the introduction. For more information about NLIS go to the MLA website. ( http://www.mla.com.au/Home)

All cattle carcasses, including bobby calves, entering Victoria in transit to a knackery must be NLIS tagged but no NVD is required.

Health requirements

All cattle must be free of Notifiable diseases.  Diseased cattle may only be brought into Victoria under licence, usually only direct for slaughter at an abattoir.  In some limited circumstances a licence to introduce the animals to another Victorian property may be granted.  Licences are issued by the Animal Biosecurity and Welfare, DPI Bendigo –

Application and licence to introduce diseased livestock into Victoria for immediate slaughter

Application and licence to introduce diseased livestock into Victoria to an approved property

Cattle being introduced into Victoria from Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory require completion of the following form –

Introduction of cattle into Victoria from Queensland, Western Australia or the Northern Territory

In addition to the above, see below for conditions related to specific diseases.

Johne’s disease

Victoria is a Control Area for bovine Johne’s disease.

Cattle from Infected herds or those undertaking eradication programs are not permitted to enter unless under licence (see above).

Cattle from Tasmania, other than the Flinders Municipality, are not permitted unless –

  • the cattle are being transported directly to an abattoir for slaughter; or
  • the cattle are being consigned directly to an approved feedlot for fattening and subsequent direct movement to slaughter; or
  • the cattle originate from a Cattle Market Assurance Program (CattleMAP) property; or
  • the cattle originate from a herd that has a negative Check-Test status
  • the cattle are steers originating from a Non-Assessed herd; or
  • the cattle have a Beef-Only status; or
  • under licence (see above)

Vendors in Victoria are strongly recommended to supply prospective purchasers with information about the risk associated with bovine Johne’s disease (paratuberculosis) posed by their stock.  This can be done for beef cattle by using the National Animal Health Statement for Johne’s Disease Status of Beef Cattle, and for dairy cattle by utilising and declaring the National Dairy Assurance Score either in section 9 of the NVD or on the Dairy BJD Assurance Score form.  Purchasers of interstate cattle are strongly recommended to request assurance about the Johne’s disease status of the animals they are importing.  Exporters of cattle to Victoria are strongly recommended to supply such information and declarations.

For further information about Johne’s disease see the Animal Health section of this website, the Animal Health Australia website and the Dairy Australia website.

Beef-Only declaration:

National Animal Health Statement for Johne’s Disease Status of Beef Cattle