Animal Welfare Standards for Cattle are being regulated progressively by state/territory governments.

When regulated within a state or territory, the use of pain relief will be compulsory for castration and dehorning of animals above certain ages – for details see the Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Cattle (Standards 6.2 and 6.4). Producers are encouraged to consider pain relief for aversive procedures on all their cattle.

The Cattle Council offers a useful guide for producers considering the use of pain relief when conducting certain aversive procedures on their cattle as part of routine management which can be downloaded as a PDF Here

Once you are registered and accredited with LPA, you can order LPA NVDs online at any time via the LPA Service Centre. Both hard copy forms and electronic LPA NVDs (eDECs) are available. You can also order LPA NVDs by calling 1800 683 111 (9am – 5pm Monday-Friday, AEST).

Each LPA NVD booklet contains 20 LPA NVDs and costs $40.00 (GST inclusive). This price includes all postage and handling.

Cheaper and faster than hard copy LPA NVDS, eDECs can be accessed immediately and offer cost savings of 48%. Each eDEC costs $0.95, and can be purchased in bundles of 5, 10, 20, 50 or 100.

The eNVD will replace the eDEC system in the future, but at this stage a date for the phase out of the eDEC has not been determined. Producers will be encouraged to transition to the eNVD system once their eDECs are used.

You can find further information on LPA National Vendor Declarations HERE

To see our latest news items please CLICK HERE

READ THE LABEL. Always adhere to the manufacturers recommended dose and dilution rates when applying an insecticide. Under no circumstance should you increase the dosage of an insecticide if you think it is not working properly or reduce the dosage for the purpose of economising.

Always keep the tags out of the sun as they will become soft and more difficult to apply.

Use an integrated approach to controlling the pest with the use of biological and non-chemical methods in association with the best chemical method available – currently insecticidal ear tags.

Synchronize the application of insecticidal ear tags or other control measures with neighbours to minimise the fly’s transfer from property to property and thus increase the area-wide kill rates.

Have a survey done of the existing species of Dung Beetle on your property so that the beneficial species may be incorporated into your fly control management strategy.

To help avoid after-tagging ear-infections, hold the male button part of the tag in a reservoir of antiseptic solution e.g. Chlorodex.

Infections at the tag site are generally on cattle with hairy ears or because of pinching by the tag which keeps the site moist. An application of Cetrimide Antiseptic Spray or similar will help to alleviate this problem.

Tagging will be easier on both the handler and the animal if the animal is restrained in a head-bail.

Unlike other eartags, Insecticidal ear tags should be applied to the back of the ear. This allows for more even distribution of insecticide.

The best place on the back of the ear to apply a tag is between the two medial rib cartilages where the animal will experience less pain and little bleeding. The cartilages also help prevent the tag from tearing out. The site should be about 10cms from the tip of the ear. (This will vary among British breed and Zebu cattle.)

Once the tag has been applied, it is a good idea to give it 2-3 sharp tugs to ensure it has positioned at the end of the male button shaft. This allows air to circulate around the wound.

Insecticidal Ear Tags must be applied with the correct applicator or correct adapter pin in another applicator.

Remove tags using the Tag removal knife.

Insecticide resistance is defined by the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee {IRAC} as a heritable change in the reduced sensitivity of a pest population to an applied product when used according to label recommendations.

For Buffalo Fly resistance to a particular chemical group to occur it is usually caused by the Buffalo Fly being exposed to a sub lethal dose of insecticide.

Insecticidal resistance is caused by repetitive use of one chemical class of insecticide, under-dosing, or if the fly tags have not been removed after the efficacy claim period.

Insecticidal resistance happens when the insect’s genetic makeup changes.

When the chemical dose becomes sub-lethal (due to the factors listed above) individual insects survive the chemical application. As succeeding generations are exposed to the insecticide, the number of resistant individuals increases.

Buffalo fly have short life spans and reproduce quickly, which means resistance can develop rapidly.

It is recommended to use an ear tag management program that includes a rotation strategy as recommended by the “Fly” Tag manufacturer.

An fly tag management program is a wider plan to help you combat flies and other pests.

Y-Tex for example recommend the following;

• tagging all the animals in a mob
• applying the recommended number of tags to each animal
• removing the tags at the end of the efficacy period
• adopting the fly tag rotation strategy
• synchronising your insecticide applications with your neighbours

It is recommended to alternate insecticidal ear tags with different chemical compounds to prevent over-exposure of a single chemical in the target insects. There is little or no cross-resistance between the major chemical classes.

Therefore fly tags containing three different insecticides are used in the rotation.

Y-Tex for example recommend as follows:

• AGRESSOR fly tag which contains Macrocyclic lactones.
• OPtimizer or WARRIOR fly tags which contain organophosphates
• PYthon or PYthon MAXIMA fly tags which contain synthetic pyrethroids

For Queensland NLIS Declaration Statement Form CLICK HERE

This is a form to be completed and uploaded with your order allowing 4tags to submit an “application to purchase NLIS devices” form on your behalf

For Queensland Land owner request for access or removal to industry systems (NLIS, LPA NVD) Form CLICK HERE

This is a form to be completed and uploaded with your order when you are not the land owner where the animals are kept and you:

• require access to industry systems (NLIS, LPA NVD), or
• no longer require access to industry systems (NLIS, LPA NVD)

For Regional DAF offices please refer to the DAF QLD WEBSITE

Ordering NLIS devices in Queensland from 1 October 2019

• • • Please be advised that NLIS device orders cannot be processed unless the producer has a current biosecurity entity registration. From 1 October 2019 requests for NLIS devices will be denied unless registration is current. Please ensure you have a current biosecurity entity registration before submitting an order.
    • Biosecurity entity registration is separate to the industry system of LPA. Detailed information about who must be registered is available at QLD GOV WEBSITE.
    • The form can also be downloaded as a fillable PDF HERE
    • Biosecurity Queensland have emailed all registered entities with expired registrations providing instructions on how to renew registration. If you as a producer have an online account, you can renew your registration on the Biosecurity Entity Registration Portal. If you don’t have an online account, to get access call the DAF Customer Service Centre on 13 25 23.
      Assistance is also available at Regional Offices
    • Once you have access to your online account you can generate your own NLIS device order form online and supply to 4Tags with your order for approved NLIS devices. As producers with an online account have already verified their details, the NLIS order form you can access using your online account is pre-authorised. This means you no longer need to seek separate authorisation from a biosecurity officer before submitting your order to 4Tags. This speeds up the NLIS tag ordering process for Qld producers.

Up to date biosecurity entity registration information is a critical part of Queensland’s robust biosecurity system. Biosecurity entity registration allows DAF to better prepare for biosecurity emergencies, respond to biosecurity risks and trace the origin and spread of a pest or disease. This makes it easier to, for example, contact cattle producers if there’s a biosecurity event that could affect their industry.

For more detailed information please refer to our State Specific page Click Here

NLIS Cattle in Queensland

• To order an approved device or tag you must first obtain an ‘Application for Permanent NLIS Device’ signed by an inspector
• This application is available from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) offices where inspectors are located.
• For Regional DAF offices please refer to the DAF QLD WEBSITE

For more detailed information please refer to our State Specific page Click Here

NLIS Pigs in Queensland

• State and territory governments will legislate for NLIS Pigs to commence from 1 February 2018, however there are already some aspects of pig traceability that are mandatory, such as the need for a PIC and the use of slap brand tattoos.
• The current mandatory requirements are:
• All properties running pigs require a PIC.
• All pigs must be identified with a tattoo or (from 1 February 2018) an NLIS approved tag before leaving the property.
• A PigPass NVD or other movement document is required for all movements of pigs off a property.
• All pig movements must be reported to the PigPass database within 48 hours of the arrival at a new PIC.
• Tags can be purchased directly from your re-seller. For more information please refer to the For more information please refer to the BZ QLD WEBSITE

For more detailed information please refer to our State Specific page Click Here

NLIS Sheep in Queensland

• To order an approved device or tag you must first obtain an ‘Application for Permanent NLIS Device’ signed by an inspector.
• This application is available from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) offices where inspectors are located.
• For Regional DAF offices please refer to the DAF QLD WEBSITE

NLIS Goats in Queensland

• • All farmed goats must be identified with an approved NLIS device before travelling to a goat depot.
• For further information please refer to the BZ QLD WEBSITE

For more detailed information please refer to our State Specific page Click Here

For Department of Primary Industries NSW information please refer to the NSW DPI WEBSITE

NLIS Cattle in New South Wales

• Cattle are identified with approved NLIS ear devices, or rumen boluses and a matching ear tag.
• All movements of cattle to sale, slaughter or to any other property are recorded in the NLIS database.
• Tags can be purchased directly from your re-seller. For more information please refer to the NSW DPI WEBSITE

For more detailed information please refer to our State Specific page Click Here

NLIS Sheep & Goats in New South Wales

• NLIS (Sheep and Goats) uses a combination of visually readable ear tags printed with a Property Identification Code (PIC), an NLIS movement document which accompanies every mob of sheep or goats when they move, and the recording of all movements of sheep and goats in the NLIS database, to provide traceability.
• Tags can be purchased directly from your re-seller. For more information please refer to the NSW DPI WEBSITE

For more detailed information please refer to our State Specific page Click Here

NLIS Pigs in NSW

• State and territory governments will legislate for NLIS Pigs to commence from 1 February 2018, however there are already some aspects of pig traceability that are mandatory, such as the need for a PIC and the use of slap brand tattoos.
• The current mandatory requirements are:
• All properties running pigs require a PIC.
• All pigs must be identified with a tattoo or (from 1 February 2018) an NLIS approved tag before leaving the property.
• A PigPass NVD or other movement document is required for all movements of pigs off a property.
• All pig movements must be reported to the PigPass database within 48 hours of the arrival at a new PIC.
• Tags can be purchased directly from your re-seller. For more information please refer to the For more information please refer to the NSW DPI WEBSITE

For more detailed information please refer to our State Specific page Click Here