There is criticism of the time it has taken for the sheep and wool industries to join the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS).

The introduction of the scheme is quite well-advanced in the cattle industry, with individual animals carrying an electronic tag linked to a national data base.

The system can be used to trace stock during a disease outbreak.

The chair of the NLIS executive, John Wylde, believes sheep producers are moving in the right direction but too slowly.

"At the moment there doesn't seem to be a cheap option for sheep radio frequency tags," he said.

"In the meantime, there's an argument about exactly what sort of whole of life tag they're going to have.

"But it is of concern. I mean, clearly you do need to have all susceptible species traceable."

Meanwhile, Northern Territory cattlemen have decided to reconsider adopting the NLIS.

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Source: ABC Online
June 3, 2005

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