NSW Sheep and Goat eID Equipment Rebate Program
This program will provide eligible sheep/goat owners and agents 50% of the cost back, up to $1,500, when they buy a handheld eID reader. Applications open 2 March 2026 and close 31 August 2026, or earlier if the program’s funding is fully allocated.
See the Sheep and Goat eID Equipment Rebate Program page for more details.
Sheep and goats are great animals to own for a number of reasons, including as food and fibre sources, vegetation management and as pets and companions.
However, we must safeguard them from disease, both to protect our animals and the wider Australian livestock industry.
All sheep and goat owners should have a basic understanding of traceability principles and ensure they provide information on the movements of their animals to the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS)
Animal Traceability
Tracing animals creates a life history of an animal’s movements, which is crucial for disease control, food safety, and animal health responses.
Like passports or human disease-related tracing, this is to ensure we know where animals are or have been located, and in that if the worst happens and an emergency occurs, we can respond quickly to reduce the impact on industry and animals.
Diseases and residue risks (like heavy metals) are becoming more common, and electronic identification (eID) helps track animals quickly so problems can be fixed fast. In Australia, eID for livestock is in the form of an ear tag (or a leg band for some goats).
This video outlines the key differences between the older mob-based movements and the new eID system, showing why the change matters.
Traceability basics
Complying with traceability requirements requires a few different parts. This is a summary of the key components
Key terms
PIC (Property Identification Code)
A unique code for your property. Links animals and movements to your location. All properties with sheep and goats on them (even if it is just one) must have a PIC.
National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) Database
Registers and provides visibility of livestock movements and animals on a property. Every time an animal leaves a property (for sale, show, vet, etc.), the move must be recorded.
Movement Documents
You need one of the following when moving any sheep or goats, for any reason:
- NVD (National Vendor Declaration): Required if selling animals at a saleyard or abattoir and can be used for all movements. You must have LPA accreditation to access this.
- TSS (Transported Stock Statement): Used for other movements (other than to a saleyard or abattoir) if you're not LPA accredited.
LPA Accreditation
Needed to sell livestock through saleyards or to abattoirs, and to access an NVD. It shows you meet national standards for food safety, animal welfare, and biosecurity.
eID Device
An electronic tag (or leg band for some goats) that must be NLIS-approved. It identifies each animal and links it to your PIC.
Key Organisations
NLIS (National Livestock Identification System)
Australia’s system for identification and traceability of livestock.
ISC (Integrity Systems Company)
Manages NLIS, NVDs, and LPA. It’s part of MLA.
MLA (Meat & Livestock Australia)
Supports Australia’s red meat industry and oversees ISC.
NSW DPIRD
Leads the rollout of eID for sheep and goats and sets policy.
LLS (Local Land Services)
Works with landholders across NSW by providing advice, training, TSS's, and PIC registration.
Mandatory Individual Electronic Identification (eID)
From 1 January 2025:
- You must tag all sheep and goats born from this date with an NLIS eID tag before they leave your property.
- If you move animals to another property (even just one animal), you must record the eID tag information and upload the movement to the NLIS database.
From 1 January 2027:
- You must make sure all sheep and goats have an NLIS eID tag before they leave any property, no matter when they were born.
- If animals stay on the same property for life, they don’t need an NLIS eID tag.
Buying a small number of eID tags
An agriculture supplies store is the best place to go if you are looking to buy eID devices. If you don’t know of one near you, you can also always order them online.
Species
Just ensure the devices you purchase are NLIS-accredited and that you specify what species you are buying them for.
Colour
You can use any colour tag in any year. This can be handy if you are buying minimum tag numbers for only a handful of animals.
If the animal wasn’t born on your property and you need to re-tag them, the pink post-breeder tag is the only colour you can use—it shows the animal came from somewhere else originally.
Quantity
Several eID devices are only available to purchase in bulk, which may make them too costly for individuals with only a small group or even just one animal.
Some devices that you can purchase in single units include:
- Enduro Combo 2
- ZTags goat leg band (recommended only for dairy and earless goats)
Devices that require a purchase of 10 minimum:
- Allflex Button tag
- Leader Multipin
- Leader Multitronic
- ZTags FET tag
- Shearwell
All other devices require purchases of 20 or more.
See a full list and guides for all NLIS-approved devices on our resources page.
FAQS
What is an eID device?
An eID device is an individual electronic identification device that has an internal microchip and is printed with a unique serial number, which is attached to individual sheep and goats in the form of an ear tag, or sometimes a leg band for goats. They must be NLIS approved when used in animals being moved or sold. You can tell if it is NLIS approved as it will have the NLIS logo printed on it.
What does it mean to record a movement?
Recording a movement in the NLIS database means uploading information to the database to show animals have been taken from one property to another. The information uploaded to the database includes the:
- eID device number of each animal
- PIC the animals came from
- PIC the animals moved to
- date of the movement
- serial number of the movement document (NVD or TSS).
Why do we need to use eID tags now?
The increased movements of products, animals and people mean that the risk of disease has increased. We want to maintain confidence with the international buyers of our livestock products, who now expect improved tracing. Most of all, we want to keep our industry and our animals safe.
How do I attach the tag?
Tag applicators are required to apply ear tags and are available for purchase with tags. It is important that you buy the matching applicator for your tags to prevent damaging the eID device or the animals ear during application. The tag can be applied to either ear. It is recommended to disinfect the ear tag before applying to an animal to prevent infection, and recommended to consult with the manufacturer of your tags to learn the best part of the ear to apply the tag.
Animals purchased may already have a tag. You will need to ensure this is an NLIS eID tag, according to the required date if those animals will leave your property.
See a full list and guides for all NLIS-approved devices on our resources page.
What colour eID tag do I need to purchase?
The colour system for tags is optional in NSW, but it’s a handy way to keep track of age if you’re breeding or selling animals. You can use any colour tag in any year. This can be handy if you are buying minimum tag numbers for only a handful of animals.
If the animal wasn’t born on your property and you need to re-tag them, the pink post-breeder tag is the only colour you can use—it shows the animal came from somewhere else originally.
What do I do if an animal I want to purchase doesn’t have an eID device?
If they were born before 1 January 2025, they can be moved with a visual NLIS tag until 1 January 2027.
You can inform the seller of their responsibilities, that when an animal leaves their property, they need to have an NLIS-approved device attached.
What if my animal will never leave my property?
If your animals never leave your property, they are not required to have an NLIS eID device. However, if your animals ever escape from your property, an NLIS tag can be used to identify that the animals belong to you.
You must tag your animal with an NLIS eID device if it goes off-property for any reason—even for a short trip to the vet or a local show.
Do I need to purchase a tag applicator?
Yes, you will need an applicator to use NLIS tags. You should buy the applicator that is accredited for the eID device you are purchasing, otherwise the tag or ear may be damaged during application.
Do I need to purchase a tag reader to scan my eIDs?
Generally not. If you purchase a small number of sheep or goats, you can record the visual 16-digit code (called the NLIS ID) printed on the tag to report those animals as being move to your property on the NLIS database.
An eID reader is mainly used if you need to scan lots of animals being moved onto your property (you may be able to borrow a reader for this), or if you want to record individual animal information over time (more common for stud producers).
Can eID implementation benefit my small farm?Can eID implementation benefit my small farm?
Yes, the benefits of eID are not limited to large-scale productions. Whether it is for keeping track of animal husbandry, health treatments or breeding records, or just the knowledge that your animals are safer, eID has benefits for everyone. Contact our team for more information about how eID can benefit you at sheepgoateid@dpird.nsw.gov.au
Do I need LPA Accreditation?
You only need LPA Accreditation if you are planning on sending animals to a saleyard or to an abattoir. However, you will need a movement document whenever you move animals off your property. This can be either an LPA NVD, which will require accreditation to obtain or a TSS.
What is a TSS?
A Transported Stock Statement (TSS) is a document used when transporting certain stock by road, rail, water or air transport in NSW. Find more information about TSS and movement documents here.
What is the information I submit to the NLIS database used for?
The information that you submit is part of a special database that is only used for traceability purposes. It will be used to send you critical information and trace animals in the case of an emergency. These animals will be recorded as being on your property.
How much will this cost?
There may be small costs associated with a PIC application (depending on your location and property size), eID devices and applicators, and this will depend on which products you choose.
You may be able to borrow an applicator from someone else if you purchase the same kind of tag.
Where can I get more information on what I need to do?
The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has many resources on its eID website, including free online training, specialist resources and the LLS events page listing face-to-face workshop opportunities across NSW. We can come to your region so if you are interested in a course tailored to your knowledge, please email us at sheepgoateid@dpird.nsw.gov.au
For NLIS database support, contact Integrity Systems Company Customer Service on 1800 683 111 or at support@integritysystems.com.au.
Upcoming events
To find out where our team will be delivering information about sheep and goat eID, visit the LLS Upcoming Events page or sign up for our newsletter.
Contact us
If you have any questions you can contact us at sheepgoateid@dpird.nsw.gov.au.