Buying stock online or privately? What you need to know

PRODUCTION ADVICE - FEBRUARY 2021 - ANIMAL BIOSECURITY & WELFARE

By Linda Searle
District Veterinarian
P: 03 5881 9919 | M: 0427 629 740 | E: linda.searle@lls.nsw.gov.au 

If you're looking to buy stock animals online or privately, there are some simple but crucial things you need to do to make sure that you're helping to maintain Australia's robust tracing system and protecting our vital export markets.

Once the sale has gone through, you are responsible for doing the property-to-property transfer on the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) Database. The NLIS identifies and traces livestock movements so that we can respond quickly to major food safety or disease incidents.

What is the NLIS?

The NLIS works by recording the movement of stock from one Property Identification Code (PIC) to another. A PIC is needed for all land where livestock live. If you don't have a PIC for your property, you can apply for one here. Recording the movement to the new PIC where the stock are allows these animals to be located quickly and easily. It’s just like updating your address when you move.

Your 'must-dos'

Within two days of receiving stock, you must do the NLIS database transfer when:

• Buying privately (through an agent or from a friend or neighbour)
• Buying online, e.g. AuctionsPlus
• Receiving stock on agistment
• Moving stock between properties with different PICs, including your own or leased properties.
• Doing a transfer is easy. Start by registering an NLIS database account at www.nlis.com.au. If you aren’t good with computers, ask a family member or friend to help.

It is your responsibility to do the transfer. If you think your stock agent is doing the transfer for you, make sure you check with them. Some agents will provide this service, but not all.

Help keep your stock traceable and make sure that your property to property transfers are done.

Sheep, goats & pigs

Sheep, goats and pigs are transferred as a mob-based movement, so all the information you need to do a transfer can be found on the National Vendor Declaration (NVD) that you got with the stock.

Cattle

Cattle are individually identified, so you will also need the individual tag information. This can either be the Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) number that is obtained from scanning the electronic tags. Or you can use the NLIS ID which is printed on the outside of the tag.