Transitioning to NAIT

The following outlines how the transition period to NAIT will work for farmers

When you should start tagging

Farmers should consider using NAIT-compliant RFID (radio frequency identification device) ear tags on newborn animals before the scheme becomes compulsory in 2011. This will avoid the expense of having to re-tag animals once NAIT becomes a mandatory requirement. It is also easier and safer to tag juvenile rather than fully grown animals.

Buying tags

You should only buy NAIT tags through your official animal identification scheme. This will ensure the tag can be used as an official secondary tag and that the tag meets the requirements of the NAIT standard. Your official supplier will provide a primary visual tag and a secondary NAIT tag with linked identification numbers. The tag manufacturer will maintain a record of tags issued and these records will be available for farmers to see in the NAIT system. Under NAIT, farmers will be required to confirm which NAIT tag sets they have put in animals’ ears. We encourage farmers, or their herd record providers, to start entering this information directly into NAIT as soon as the system is available for voluntary use.

Newborn animals

The changeover to NAIT will be much easier for farmers if they start applying NAIT tags to newborn animals as soon as possible. Once NAIT becomes mandatory, all newborn animals must be tagged with a NAIT-compliant tag within six months of birth.

The only exception is bobby calves less than 30-days-old going direct to slaughter. The existing bobby calf tags will continue to be used.

Existing animals

Animals that will be alive after NAIT becomes fully mandatory will need to have NAIT RFID tags (see exemption). We recommend applying these sooner rather than later.

NAIT recommends that farmers use their usual tag supplier to buy NAIT tags that are linked to existing visual tags already in use on their capital stock.

If this is not feasible, it is acceptable to apply RFID tags that do not have a matching visual identifier. However, in this case, we encourage farmers who have access to an electronic reader or third-party to read the RFID tags as soon as they are applied and to record them against the existing visual identification numbers. This information should be stored and sent to NAIT once farm registration starts.

If it is not possible to match the RFID tags with the visual tags, we encourage farmers to use a reader or a third-party to at least record the details of the new RFID tags and to send this record to NAIT as soon as possible.

If none of the above options are practical, we ask farmers to simply start introducing NAIT-compliant RFID tags to their existing stock as soon as possible.

Animals with existing RFID tags

NAIT believes that it is unreasonable to expect farmers to replace existing RFID tags already in use on deer and cattle.

Existing RFID tags will be accepted by NAIT during the transition period, providing:

- They were issued prior to 1 June 2010
- They are inserted into the right ear of the animal
- They are compatible with the NAIT standard (you should check with your supplier)

Exemption for capital (breeding) stock

Following the mandatory introduction of NAIT, farmers will be exempt for three years from tagging existing capital stock with NAIT-compliant tags. These animals, however, will have to be tagged if they leave the farm during this period. The exemption period for deer will start one year later than cattle, reflecting the different timeframe for introduction to NAIT by this species.

Tag readers

Tag readers will not be mandatory for farmers under NAIT. Some farmers, however, may choose to buy readers to take advantage of the efficiencies offered by RFID technology. NAIT does not recommend any particular make or model, but urges farmers to check with suppliers that any intended purchase can read NAIT-compliant tags.

Animals going direct to slaughter

Under NAIT, animals going direct to slaughter will require NAIT-compliant RFID tags. The only exception will be bobby calves less than 30-days-old. As with all stock, NAIT recommends that farmers start applying NAIT tags as soon as possible to any animal that will be alive after the NAIT regulations take effect.