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Protecting Victoria’s Beef and Dairy Industries

Order Livestock Tags Online

Download the PDF version of this document: Protecting Victoria’s beef and dairy industries

Farmer tagging a cow with an ear tag

The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) is Australia’s system for identifying and tracking beef and dairy cattle for food safety, disease control and market access purposes.

The NLIS enables cattle to be reliably identified and tracked from their property of birth to place of slaughter; this protects the reputation of Australia’s cattle industry as a supplier of clean, wholesome beef and dairy products. This brochure gives a brief overview of the key requirements for producers.

For further information on all NLIS requirements, call DPI’s toll-free Helpline on 1800 678 779 during business hours, or visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au and follow the prompts to the NLIS section.

NLIS (Cattle) tagging requirements

  • Whatever their age, all cattle must have an NLIS (Cattle) tag in their ear when they’re dispatched from a Victorian property. This applies regardless of whether they’re going to a saleyard, scales, abattoir, agricultural show or another property.
  • If you’re unable to safely tag your cattle, you must obtain a Department of Primary Industries (DPI) permit before allowing untagged cattle to leave your property.
  • The carcases of all cattle that are consigned to a knackery must be identified with an NLIS (Cattle) tag, except for dead calves less than six weeks old that may instead be tagged with the property’s tail tag.

What are NLIS (Cattle) tags?

  • NLIS (Cattle) Breeder tags are white. They’re used to permanently identify cattle that are on their property of birth.
  • NLIS (Cattle) Post-breeder tags are orange. They’re used to permanently identify introduced cattle that aren’t already identified with a Breeder or Post-breeder tag.
  • NLIS (Cattle) tags are stamped with the NLIS logo and the words ‘Do not remove’.
NLIS (Cattle) Breeder and Post-breeder tags must be attached to the right (offside) ear. The component of the tag containing the transponder must be placed on the inside of the ear close to the head.

Tag your cattle correctly

  • NLIS (Cattle) Breeder and Post-breeder tags must be attached to the right (offside) ear. The component of the tag containing the transponder must be placed on the inside of the ear close to the head.
  • Cattle don’t need to be identified with an NLIS (Cattle) tag until the day they leave their property of birth. However, it’s much easier to tag cattle when they’re young, for example at marking or weaning, than when they are adults.

Do I need to supply an NVD when selling cattle?

  • If you consign cattle to a saleyard, abattoir or another producer, they must be accompanied by a correctly completed National Vendor Declaration (NVD) form. The NVD must include your Property Identification Code (PIC).
  • NVD forms are supplied by the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA). You can order these either online at www.mla.com.au/lpa or by phoning 1800 683 111 during office hours.

What is a Property Identification Code (PIC)?

  • A PIC is an eight-character code assigned by DPI to livestock properties. Victorian PICs commence with the number ‘3’ followed by four letters and three numbers as follows - ‘3ABCD123’.
  • If you buy cattle at a saleyard, immediately after the purchase you must provide the selling agent with the PIC for the next property where they will be kept.

Property to property movements must be registered

Anyone receiving cattle directly from another property must notify the NLIS database of their arrival within 7 days. The following information must be supplied:

  • Electronic transponder number (or visually readable NLIS tag number) for each animal,
  • Date of movement,
  • PIC of the property where the cattle were last kept,
  • PIC of the property to which the cattle were consigned,
  • NVD serial number.

Any beef producer or dairy farmer who receives cattle directly from another property has these options for notifying the database:

  • You can scan the cattle using a tag reader, then open a database account and report the arrival of the cattle;
  • You can engage a stock agent, saleyard operator, scanning contractor, dairy herd improvement centre or livestock transporter to scan the cattle and notify the database.

Please note: There are no fees associated with electronically registering movements on the NLIS database.

To access the NLIS database, visit www.nlis.mla.com.au. For further information on the use of the NLIS database, contact NLIS Ltd’s Database Helpline on 1800 654 743 during business hours.

Use and removal of NLIS (Cattle) tags

  • Under Victorian legislation, once an NLIS (Cattle) Breeder or Post-breeder tag is attached to cattle it must not be removed, unless it is non-functional (conditions apply), until the animal is processed in an abattoir or knackery.
  • Breeder and Post-breeder tags issued for use on one property must not be used to identify cattle located on another property.
  • Breeder and Post-breeder tags must not be sold, given away or reused.
  • White NLIS (Cattle) Breeder tags must not be used to identify animals that are no longer on their PIC of birth. An orange Post-breeder tag must be used in such instances.
  • NLIS (Sheep & Goats) tags must not be used to identify cattle.

Where can I get more information about the NLIS?

For further information:

  • Call DPI’s toll-free Helpline on 1800 678 779 during business hours, or
  • Visit www.dpi.vic.gov.au and follow the prompts to the NLIS section.

NLIS (Cattle) tags can be ordered on-line using a credit card. Visit the DPI website and follow the prompts to the NLIS section and Livestock Tags On-line. Call DPI’s Helpline on 1800 678 779 for further information on tag ordering options.

To access the NLIS database, visit www.nlis.mla.com.au. For further information on the operation of the database contact NLIS Ltd’s Database Helpline on 1800 654 743 during business hours.