Identifying and tracing stock

Australia is a world leader in disease control and traceability of stock consigned for human consumption.

Livestock Health and Pest Authorities (formerly Rural Lands Protection Boards) are key partners in Australia’s National Livestock Identification System (NLIS), the national traceability system for cattle, sheep and goats. Under the scheme, movements of cattle, sheep and goats between properties with different property identification codes (PICs) are recorded on a national database. Livestock Health and Pest Authorities allocate PICs and keep a register of PIC allocations.

Livestock Health and Pest Authorities also administer other non-compulsory forms of stock identification such as brands and earmarks, which play a traditional role in identifying stock ownership and reducing stock theft.

Stock Identification

See Stock Identification for information and resources relating to NLIS, PICs and other forms of stock ID including brands and earmarks.

Stock Movement

See Moving Stock for information about your responsibilities when moving stock. Monitoring of stock movement is an important part of disease control and traceability.