Future livestock owners and agricultural students will soon have hands-on experience with handheld scanning technology for electronic identification (eID) of sheep and farmed goats. A new rebate scheme is giving eligible South Australian schools the chance to equip their students with the tools used in modern livestock management.
eID is replacing the traditional visual tags and mob-based system, making livestock traceability more accurate and efficient. The South Australian Government has set aside $10.2 million for various assistance measures, ensuring the supply chain is prepared to meet new reporting and recording requirements under the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS).
Schools, colleges, and tertiary institutions running agriculture programmes with a livestock focus can now apply for a 75% rebate on stick readers. This initiative will help students understand eID and its role in livestock reporting as they prepare for careers in farming, primary production, and related industries.
The Sheep and Goat eID Implementation Essential Equipment Rebate for schools will remain open until 5pm (ACST) on 30 June 2025. From 1 January 2025, all sheep and farmed goats must be identified with an NLIS-accredited eID tag before leaving their property of birth. Producers managing property-to-property (P2P) movements must also record these transactions in the NLIS database.
The South Australian Government has introduced several industry support measures, including:
- Point-of-Sale Tag Discount Scheme: A $0.95 discount per NLIS-accredited eID tag at purchase for white tags in 2025, available until 30 June 2025.
- Expanded eID Device Rebate (2023-2025): A 50% rebate (up to $0.95, GST exclusive) for NLIS-accredited eID tags purchased between 1 January 2023 and 30 June 2025, for those outside the NLIS year-of-birth colour system.
- Sheep and Goat eID Essential Equipment and Infrastructure Rebate (Saleyards and Processors): A 75% rebate on equipment and infrastructure needed for eID implementation at saleyards and processing facilities. Closes 30 June 2025.
- Sheep and Goat eID Essential Equipment Rebate (Producers): A 75% rebate for producers to help cover the cost of recording property-to-property movements on the NLIS database. Rebate limits vary:
- Up to $500 for movements of 100 or fewer animals annually.
- Up to $2,000 for movements between 101 and 5,000 animals annually.
- Up to $20,000 for movements exceeding 5,000 animals annually.
- Sheep and Goat eID Essential Equipment Rebate (Agents): A 75% rebate (up to $7,000, ex GST) for livestock agents to purchase essential equipment, including pocket readers, stick readers, mobile panel readers, and scanner components for weigh crates. Closes 30 June 2025.
The eID Advantage Program, backed by a $900,000 state investment, is also underway. It focuses on education and skill development for producers, offering upskilling workshops and face-to-face training sessions on eID tags, technology, and NLIS database usage.
More details on eID implementation support programmes can be found at pir.sa.gov.au/eid-rebate-schools.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Clare Scriven, emphasised the importance of the initiative, stating, “We have listened to feedback from the Industry Advisory Committee and acted promptly to create the dedicated Essential Equipment Rebate for Schools to support their livestock management educational programmes.”
She added that the scheme will familiarise future industry professionals with eID technology, ensuring they are well-prepared for NLIS reporting and recording obligations. “Electronic identification for sheep and farmed goats will ensure we have the best possible traceability system, which is crucial to protecting our $4.9 billion livestock industry in the event of an outbreak of an emergency animal disease such as foot and mouth disease (FMD).”
With these measures in place, South Australia is equipping its future farmers with the knowledge and tools needed to keep the livestock industry strong, safe, and ready for the challenges ahead.
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