Producer perspective highlights practical benefits of eID
The practical benefits and challenges of electronic identification (eID) were highlighted by NSW sheep and cattle producer Chris Kemp during a recent national webinar.
Mr Kemp, an independent NSW representative on Sheep Producers Australia's Policy Council, joined Integrity Systems and the Goat Industry Council of Australia for the October 20 webinar, ahead of upcoming mandatory sheep and goat eID requirements across several states.
Drawing on almost six years of experience using eID, Mr Kemp provided an important producer perspective on how the technology can support livestock management and decision-making.
"I didn't feel I could contribute properly to industry discussions about eID without using it myself," he said.
Mr Kemp explained how his business electronically tags all ewe lambs, tracks their mob of origin and uses scanning technology at weaning to monitor performance.
The information allows him to compare livestock performance against rainfall, paddock conditions and management practices, while also supporting decisions around genetics and growth.
However, he acknowledged the costs associated with adopting the technology, including investment in an automatic drafting system and electronic tags.
"It hasn't been cheap," he said.
Despite these costs, Mr Kemp said eID had delivered more detailed animal records, faster and more accurate tracing, and better information for management decisions.
He also highlighted the opportunity for greater value through improved carcase feedback from processors to producers.
His contribution reinforced the importance of practical producer experience in industry discussions about eID, ensuring the costs, challenges and opportunities of implementation are understood.
Webinar resources
The webinar covered upcoming eID deadlines, on-farm benefits and tips for using the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database.
Registered participants will receive a recording, question-and-answer transcript and additional resources from Integrity Systems.
For further information, email integritycomms@mla.com.au.
