Saleyard NLIS requirements

As a business involved in the gathering and mixing of livestock, it is important you use robust traceability practices and meet legislative requirements.

Traceability requirements for saleyards

As a saleyard, it's your responsibility to:

  • ensure animals are correctly tagged
  • transfer livestock from and to correct PICs
  • complete National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database transfers accurately and on time
  • ensure all animals are traded with accurate vendor declarations.

All saleyards require a:

  • property identification code (PIC) - this defines a property where livestock are kept. PICs start with '3SY,' which indicates you run a saleyard in Victoria. If animals are kept in paddocks surrounding the saleyard you will require a paddock PIC. The saleyard PIC is only for the saleyard site.
  • EUSY code - your PIC and EUSY code will be linked, allowing you to correctly transfer animals on the NLIS database.
  • National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) - Apply online for an account via the NLIS database, or call the NLIS helpdesk on 1800 654 743.

Livestock tagging requirements

All animals being sold or moved through a saleyard must be NLIS tagged. Post Breeder tags must be available for each species of livestock arriving at a saleyard.

Producer’s NLIS tags must not be applied to an animal that arrives at a saleyard untagged. A saleyard post breeder tag must be used.

Order post breeder tags online or call the Agriculture Victoria NLIS Helpline on 1800 678 779.

Untagged bulls in saleyards

If a bull arrives untagged at a saleyard and cannot be tagged with an NLIS saleyard post breeder (PB) tag in its EAR, it must be sent direct to an abattoir, not sold to another producer.

The following steps must be followed for untagged bulls:

  1. If a bull cannot be NLIS tagged, it must be recorded as untagged in the PB tag register.
  2. If a bull cannot be tagged at a saleyard, an untagged bull notification must be completed and sent with the movement documents (VD or PSS) to the abattoir. Only one notification is needed per abattoir.
  3. All untagged bull notifications, the PB tag register, and NVDs must be emailed to livestocktraceability@agriculture.vic.gov.au within two days of dispatch.

You can request the Untagged Bull Notification by emailing livestocktraceability@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Check for correct details in NLIS transfers

All seller and/or buyer PICs provided must be correct and valid. The PIC on the National Vendor Declaration (NVD) must be used as the 'from' PIC in the NLIS transfer.

Scanning and transfer requirements

All livestock traded through a saleyard are required to be scanned and transferred on the NLIS database.

  • The INTO saleyard transfer for cattle, sheep and goats must be uploaded to the NLIS database before the animals leave the saleyard.
  • The OUT of saleyard transfer must be completed by the close of business the next day after the sale.

Transit animals

All animals at a saleyard must be sighted on the NLIS database against the saleyard PIC. This includes transit animals and animals staying between sales. This must happen within 2 days of arrival, or before the animals leave - whichever comes first.

If animals stay longer than 7 days, a full NLIS transfer must be completed to the saleyard paddock PIC. A new NVD must also be completed when they are moved or sold.

Early warning PIC status

An Early Warning (EW) status is a flag assigned PIC on the NLIS database. It is automatically assigned to a property carrying a high-risk animal or animals.

As a saleyard, you should:

  • undertake full pre-sale checks, including verifying NVDs
  • check with the vendor for any information of status on their PIC
  • scan all animals to determine if any carry high risk statuses
  • provide any status information in a pre-sale catalogue.

Learn more about EW PIC status.

Current holdings

Devices that remain registered to your EUSY code, and are not transferred to the correct destination PIC within the required timeframe, are called 'current holdings'. It is a legal requirement to manage these holdings. All animals traded through the saleyard must also be transferred off the saleyard EUSY code within the required timeframe.

Emails listing all holdings recorded against a saleyard’s EUSY code are sent by the NLIS database to the email account recorded on the database.

Vendor Declarations

An accurate and complete Vendor Declaration (VD) must be present at the time of the animal’s arrival at the saleyard.

Legislation

To ensure good traceability, everyone in the supply chain must comply with the legislation associated with livestock traceability and traceability systems.

The legislation governing saleyards for NLIS and animal welfare is the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994, the Livestock Disease Control Regulations 2017 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.

Page last updated: 02 Jun 2026