Moving animals between properties
The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) is Australia's system for identifying and tracking cattle, sheep, goats and pigs across Australia. There are three parts to the NLIS:
- All livestock are identified by an electronic eartag or device.
- All locations where livestock are kept have a Property Identification Code (PIC).
- All livestock movements to a different PIC are recorded in the NLIS database.
When cattle, sheep, goats or pigs are moved to a property with a different PIC, the person receiving the animals must register the movement. This must be done on the NLIS or PigPass database within 2 days of the animals arriving.
Recording movement of livestock between properties is a key part of our traceability system. The records are used during fires and floods for animal welfare needs and emergency animal disease outbreaks for tracing.
Read more about the NLIS.
Do you need a Property Identification Code?
Read more about PigPass
Property-to-property transfers of livestock
Movement of animals includes:
- private sales of animals
- animals being agisted or loaned
- animals traded through online selling platforms such as AuctionsPlus, Gumtree and Facebook.
The buyer or receiver of the animals is responsible for making sure the movement is recorded on the NLIS or PigPass database.
The movement record must be completed either:
- within two days (48 hours) of the livestock arriving at the new property
- before the animals leave the property, if that is within two days.
A buyer or receiver can use a third party, such as a stock agent, transporter or service provider, to scan tags and record movements on the NLIS or PigPass database. However, the buyer or receiver remains responsible for ensuring the transfer is completed.
When animals are bought, sold or moved through a saleyard, scale, public on-farm auction, abattoir or knackery, the business operating that facility is responsible for updating the NLIS database.
Recording movements of cattle, sheep and goats on the NLIS database
Information on the movement of cattle, sheep and goats throughout Australia is stored on the NLIS database.
Follow these steps to complete a cattle, sheep or goat movement on the NLIS database:
- You must have access to an NLIS database account to record movements of livestock .
Create a new account online or call 1800 638 111. There is no charge to open an account. - Log in to the NLIS database by entering your user ID and password.
- Select the livestock species.
- Select 'Notify the database of – Livestock moved onto my property.'
- Enter the details or upload a file that contains the details.
You'll need the following details:
- NLIS tag numbers
- date the livestock arrived on the property
- PIC of the property the animals have left
- PIC of the property where the animals have arrived
- National Vendor Declaration or consignment declaration number
- number of sheep and goats in the consignment
To learn more visit Buying, Selling and Moving Livestock.
Watch this video for a step-by-step guide on how to complete an animal movement on the NLIS database.
Video: how to make property-to-property transfers with NLIS
[Narrator] This video will explain how to complete an individual sheep property-to-property transfer on the NLIS database.
Enter www.nlis.com.au into your browser. You will see the following screen.
[Visual: NLIS home page with 'Welcome to NLIS' and buttons to Register and Log in]
You can either log in if you have an existing NLIS account, or register for NLIS producer account.
To register for an account, click on Register.
[Visual: Register screen with the following steps:
- a checkbox to Agree to the NLIS Terms of Use
- Choose your account type
- Provide your account details
- Choose your password
- Click register]
You will need to fill out your details and click Register. You will receive an email from the NLIS database confirming your application.
[Visual: Return to NLIS home page, navigate to Log in. Log in screen has the following options:
- NLIS User ID and Password
- Forgot User ID
- Forgot password, or
- Log in with MyMLA]
To log on to the NLIS database, add in your NLIS user ID and password. If you have forgotten you user ID or password, click on the icons and send. You also have the option to log into the NLIS database through your MyMLA login if you have it set up.
Once you log in to your NLIS account, you will see the old Dashboard. You will need to change to the new Dashboard.
[Visual: Navigate to 'Welcome back [Your name]. Select dropdown. From list, select New Dashboard.]
Once you have selected the new Dashboard, you need to ensure you are working with Sheep (individual).
[Visual: New Dashboard. Select dropdown, from list select 'Sheep (individual)'.]
You now need to select the option, notify the database of Livestock moved onto my property (sheep individual). That will take you to the transfer screen.
[Visual: Navigate to left sidebar. Select 'Notify the database of'. From list, select 'Livestock moved onto my property'. Transfer screen.]
Step 1: Type in the data. You can enter the electronic NLIS e-tags of the sheep into the first box. This can be completed by copying and pasting the RFIDs directly from the file you downloaded onto your computer from your scanner, or by typing in the visual number, the NLIS ID, as shown.
If you are typing the visual number, ensure that numbers and digits are all correct, otherwise you might transfer the incorrect animal or someone else's animal.
You will then need to enter the total number of head in the consignment. The PIC you are moving the animals from will need to be entered in the next box. This PIC can be found on the NVD, the National Vendor Declaration, that arrived with the animals.
The PIC you are moving them to is pre-entered from the PIC or PICs linked to your NLIS account.
The NVD number must be entered in the next box.
The date the livestock moved must be entered. This date must reflect the date the animals arrived on your property, not the date you completed the NLIS transfer.
[Visual: Select Continue. Proceed to next screen.]
Step 2: validate the data. This screen includes the details of your proposed NLIS transfer, including the NLIS IDs, RFIDs, PIC, NVD number, and movement date for you to validate and make any changes if required.
[Visual: Columns with NLIS ID/RFID, From PIC, To PIC, NVD Serial Number, Movement Date. One of the NLIS IDs is coloured red to indicate an error.]
For this example, the NLIS ID doesn't have the correct number of characters. Once the data is all correct, Process Data can be selected.
[Visual: Select Process Data. Procced to next screen.]
Step 3: Process Data. The last screen informs you if the transfer has been processed successfully or not, and provides you with an upload ID for your reference. You'll also be sent an email from the NLIS database regarding the transfer and upload details.
[Visual: Confirmation screen that reads 'Data has been processed successfully. Your upload ID is…'.]
Recording movements of pigs on the PigPass database
PigPass is Australia’s national pig traceability system, which records pig movements across the country.
When pigs are moved to a property with a different PIC, the receiver must record the movement on the PigPass database within 2 days of arrival.
PigPass is designed to link pigs to a property of origin using:
- a PIC
- registered pig identification (ear tags and tattoos)
- pig movement documentation (the PigPass NVD).
Information about PigPass can be found under the FAQ tab on PigPass or by calling the PigPass helpdesk on 1800 001 458.