Livestock ownership requirements for small landholders

Page last updated: Friday, 1 February 2019 - 12:45pm

Please note: This content may be out of date and is currently under review.

Livestock identification

You are legally required to identify all livestock correctly by a certain age or before they leave your property. Different types of animals have different identification requirements such as brands, earmarks or tattoos. You can find out the complete requirements by visiting the DAFWA website or by contacting the Brands Office.

Only the person or company that is registered as the owner may use the registered identifiers. You cannot lend or use your brand or earmarking equipment on stock owned in another name, even if they are the same family.

You can order all types of tags and identification equipment from local rural suppliers using your PIC card details.

Equipment for applying the registered identification must not be removed from the property without a permit from DAFWA.

Cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats need extra identification under the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS). The NLIS is a permanent, whole-of-life identification system that enables animals to be tracked from property of birth to slaughter. NLIS identification and tracing requirements differ according to the species.

Cattle and buffalo

The prescribed method of identification for cattle and buffalo is to apply a fire or freeze brand on the left rump or shoulder or an earmark in the ear designated on the PIC card. Cattle and buffalo also require a functioning NLIS electronic device, most often seen as an eartag in the right ear, before they can move to a different location.

Movements of cattle or buffalo to a new property are required to be updated on a national database. All cattle and buffalo require an NLIS electronic device before leaving the property, regardless of age.

Sheep and goats

The prescribed method of identification for sheep is to have your registered brand or PIC imprinted on an approved NLIS eartag in addition to applying the registered earmark. The NLIS eartag can be visual or electronic and is colour coded for the year of birth.

For goats, identification requires your registered brand or PIC imprinted on an NLIS eartag. Earmarks on goats are optional.

The colour of these tags depends on the year they were born and whether they are leaving their property of birth or another property. Different ears are used for ear tags and earmarks, depending on the gender of the animals.

All sheep and goats brought onto a property subsequent to their property of birth are required to be identified with a pink NLIS eartag imprinted with the brand or PIC of the new owner, prior to being removed from that property. It is advised they be tagged on arrival to assist with determining correct ownership should they or other animals stray or be mixed together.

Pigs

All pig owners must have a current registration of ownership of livestock. Owners will be allocated registered identifiers including a stock brand (e.g. 7BT) and a five digit pig brand (e.g. 67/103) which must be applied as a body tattoo. Pigs must be tattooed with the five digit pig brand before being transported.

Pigs over the age of ten weeks must be branded no more than seven days prior to being removed from the property.

Horses

The prescribed method of identification for horses is a freeze or fire brand on the horse’s left shoulder. If you purchase a horse that is already branded, you do not have to re-brand it however you must have documentation to show ownership.

If owners wish to brand newly acquired stock, the registered brand must be applied immediately below the existing brand on the left shoulder. Alternative identification such as microchips can be used under specific conditions.

Camelids

The identification required for South American camelids (alpaca and llama) may be all or any of:

  • the registered brand impressed on an approved eartag
  • the registered earmark
  • an approved breed society identifier.

Camelids must be identified before they reach six months of age, or before they are moved from the property, whichever occurs first. Camelids under six months of age can move without identification if accompanied by their legally identified mother, and movement is to another property with the same PIC. Camelids that have registered identifiers of the previous owner do not require additional identification if the present owner has proof of purchase.