NLIS devices
Cattle devices
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NLIS devices for cattle can be an ear tag or a rumen bolus/visual ear tag combination (the ear tag indicating a bolus is dark green).
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White 'Breeder' devices are applied to cattle on their property of birth. Orange 'Post-breeder' devices are applied to cattle no longer on their property of birth, and not already identified with an NLIS device. This includes cattle that have lost their breeder device after leaving their property of birth.
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Once an NLIS device is attached properly, it should remain with the animal for life. If you purchase cattle that are already identified with an NLIS device, you do not need to apply another device.
Sheep and goat devices
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NLIS devices for sheep and goats can be either a visual ear tag or an RFID ear tag.
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Visual tags for sheep are coloured according to the year the animal was born. There are eight tag colours that rotate through a defined eight-year sequence.
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RFID 'Breeder' tags for sheep or goats are usually yellow but may be any of the eight colours used for visual tags. RFID 'Post-breeder' tags are pink. These are applied to sheep or goats that have lost their breeder device after leaving their property of birth.
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Once an NLIS device is attached, it should remain with the animal for life. If you purchase sheep or goats that are already identified with an NLIS device, you do not need to apply another device.
Testing and field trials
NLIS identification devices for cattle, sheep or goats must undergo a three-year field trial. During this time, if the device meets performance criteria at prescribed intervals defined in the relevant standard, it may be awarded conditional accreditation. The conditional status must be marked clearly on the manufacturer's packaging.
If the device continues to perform well throughout the three-year field trial, it is awarded full accreditation.
NLIS device standards & trial protocols
The NLIS Standards Committee will review device standards and trial protocols as required. Once the review is finalised, the latest versions of these documents will be published on this page and are applicable from the published effective date.