Utilising eID technology and data management

Summary

From 1st January 2025 it will be mandatory for all sheep producers in WA to use the NLIS Electronic Identification (EID) tags. The reason for this is to give authorities another tool to trace sheep in the event of a biosecurity risk/outbreak. Diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), pose a significant biosecurity risk to the Australian livestock industry EID tags will allow for more rapid tracing, and as a result, a more effective emergency response. There are however many other benefits of eID tags that producers can harness, if they are willing to learn and implement the correct gear, gather, analysis and utilise the data it can access. 

This Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) project aims to demonstrate the potential management, financial and biosecurity outcomes of utilising eID, while supporting the technological and data management requirements of implementing eID to generate positive, sustained management and decision-making change in sheep enterprises in the face of compulsory eID tag adoption in WA. 

Objectives

By 2027, over three sites involving 30 core and 140 observer producers* in the medium to high rainfall zone of Western Australia:  

1. ​Have clearly demonstrated to producers how to utilise eID technology and analyse its data to support decision making and management of their livestock in regards to:
   • ​making a breeding objective, including using breeding values and selection indexes and classing livestock
   • ​animal health, using condition scores of ewes
   • ​animal health, classing and turn off times using weaner and lamb growth rates
   • ​biosecurity and traceability
2. ​Conducted benefit cost analyses on core host producers to determine the financial impact of utilising the technology.
3. ​Deliver three field days, six meetings per group, six case studies and three fact sheet/producer guides, plus at least one podcast.
4. ​The above three objectives combine to ensure that 90% of core producers and 70% of observer producers will have improved their skills, knowledge, and confidence in implementing an eID system focused on biosecurity and management, leading to an average of 60% of all involved producers adopting eID supported management and decision making.​

Progress

The “Utilising eID technology and data management” PDS is being managed by Maeve O’Brien with assistance from Georgia Reid-Smith (AgPro Management) and the project is operating in south-western WA.

In the first few months of the project, progress of this PDS is limited due in part to a change in primary facilitator, and the timing of project approval.

This aligned with producers having already made decisions around whether or not to utilise EID in this year’s drop of lambs.

As such the core producers and demonstration site plans have not yet been nominated, and pre-project surveys have not yet been distributed.

However content has been delivered in the form of presentations at a field day in Wagin, a group meeting in Corrigin and a webinar with very positive feedback and excellent producer engagement.

There is also strong industry support, as well as interest in being involved in the project.