Slide1: Garry Edwards Livestock Exchange Pty Ltd NLIS – The Australian Experience ID INFO CONFERENCE - CHICAGO September 2005


Background Information: Australia is a NET Beef Exporter National Cattle Herd is approx. 26.5 million head Diverse production systems and environment Intensive and Extensive Grazing, Feedlotting andamp; Dairy Low cost production systems No Government subsidies EU market access demands in 1990’s Background Information


Cattle Numbers: Cattle Numbers QLD 10.75 Million NSW 5.82 Million VIC 4.39 Million TAS 0.68 Million SA 1.40 Million NT 1.68 Million WA 1.95 Million TOTAL 26.66 Million TOTAL 2003 Cattle No.s Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics


Traceability Systems – pre NLIS: Traceability Systems – pre NLIS Mob based identification since 1960’s Tail tag / NVD, waybills etc Branding / earmarking Strong from point of depasturing to slaughter Relied on paper records held on-farm at saleyards and at processing plants Source: Meat and Livestock Australia


NLIS vs Tail Tags and NVD’s: Limit of 100% accuracy of tail tags and NVDs Probable end of tail tag and NVD trail in most cases Tail tag and NVD strong to point of last residence NLIS vs Tail Tags and NVD’s Source: Meat and Livestock Australia


Why have a NLIS?: Why have a NLIS? Global trend towards animal traceability systems Facilitate market access Consumers are concerned about food safety NLIS can reduce incidence and impact of disease outbreaks and residue incidents Enhances management of animal health incidents Government study estimated an FMD outbreak to cost Australia $2 – $13 Billion – Retail Recall


Global trend in individual animal ID : Global trend in individual animal ID Canada Brazil New Zealand Ireland UK Botswana Europe Korea Japan Uruguay Argentina Australia USA Source: Meat and Livestock Australia


NLIS In Australia: Introduced on a voluntary basis - January 1999 (Cattle) Incorporates features of existing traceability systems – Tail Tags and NVD’s PIC – Property Identification Codes National program agreed to by industry and government Legislative underpinning by States with complimentary legislation Utilises ISO compliant RFID Technology (HDX) NLIS In Australia


Slide9: ICAR Numbering System – utilises manufacturers code format Devices are field tested – Retention and Readability - up to 3 years Read performance tests – min. 1.2m Accredited by an independent technical committee Manufactured under license once accredited Devices/Animals are recorded on a centralised database operated by Meat andamp; Livestock Australia


NLIS Implementation Stages: Source: Meat and Livestock Australia NLIS Implementation Stages


Key Components of the System: Key Components of the System Radio frequency identification (RFID) Ear tags and boluses RFID readers – Handheld and Race NLIS database – website interface


Devices: Devices Source: Meat and Livestock Australia


Animal 1: Animal 1 Source: Meat and Livestock Australia


Animal 2: Animal 2 Source: Meat and Livestock Australia


Radio Frequency Identification Number (RFID): Manufacturer Code Radio Frequency Identification Number (RFID) Unique global identification number 971 000003273014 Tag Number 982 – Allflex 971 – Aleis 964 – Rumitag 951 – Leader 942 – Zee Tags


NLIS ID (External Number): NLIS ID (External Number) 3ABCD123 L B A 00002 Management Number Manufacturer Code E – Aleis K – Austock / Zee Tags L – Leader M – Rumitag Q – Animal Life X – Allflex Property Identification Code Device Type B – Breeder Tag E – Post Breeder Tag C – Breeder Capsule F – Post Breeder Capsule


NLIS Animal Record Format: NLIS Animal Record Format 3GKRT011, 971 000003273014, 3ABCD123EBW00002, Y PIC (Current Location) RFID NLIS ID EU Status Y – Yes N – No B – Bull D – Deceased


Whole-of-chain Involvement: Source: Meat and Livestock Australia NLIS device manufacturer Producer (breeder) Producer or Feedlot Saleyard NLIS Database Processor Individual animals read at each transaction point Traceability from birth to slaughter via NLIS Database Whole-of-chain Involvement


NLIS Database: NLIS Database Device Manufacturers - Upload device info to PICs Producers - Transfer Cattle - View Tag Numbers - View Carcass Data Processors t/f kill information - t/f carcase information - make inquiries Saleyards - Inquiry - Take Possession - Sell Possession Auditors - Request Audit Reports (Tag movement based on PIC) Agents - Individual Inquiries Third Parties On Behalf of Producers - Transfer Cattle - View Tag Numbers - View Carcass Data State Dept of Agriculture - Inquiries - PIC Uploads - Auditing Feedlots - Transfer Cattle - View Tag Numbers - View Carcass Data Set ERP Status - Information - Inquiries National Residue Survey Source: Meat and Livestock Australia


Industry Take Up: Industry Take Up Abattoirs Saleyards Feedlots Properties NSW 29 93 32 21,572 VIC 48 88 9 41,931 QLD 92 83 92 5,620 SA 46 16 16 6,862 WA 10 39 12 2,567 TAS 6 15 1 3,511 NT 0 1 0 95 231 251 162 82,158 Source: Meat and Livestock Australia Figures as at September 2005


Current Statistics: Current Statistics 28.8 million devices recorded on database Average of 40,000 transfers per day Over 5 million new devices recorded since 1 July 2005 130 processing plants accessing NLIS database daily and uploading carcase data


Producer Systems: Producer Systems Automated field data capture Liveweight scale systems Data collection readers Herd management software Handheld PDA systems and software - Bluetooth Enhanced management practices and decision making Automated Livestock Handling Electronic Carcase Feedback from NLIS Database


Handheld Data Collection: Handheld Data Collection


Producer Reader 1: Producer Reader 1 Source: Livestock Exchange Pty Ltd


Producer Reader 2: Producer Reader 2 Source: Aleis International


Producer Reader 3: Producer Reader 3 Source: Allflex Australia Source: Allflex Australia


Weighbox: Weighbox Source: Aleis International


Feedlot: Feedlot Source: Allflex Australia


Feedlot 2: Feedlot 2 Source: Thompson Longhorn Pty Ltd


Saleyards (Stockyards): Saleyards (Stockyards) Enhanced Data Collection and Processing Automated Livestock Handling Direct interface to the NLIS database Minimal impact on rate of commerce Reading systems in use; Wand Readers, Panel Readers and Multi-Animal Reading Systems


Saleyard Data Collection: Saleyard Data Collection Source: Livestock Exchange Pty Ltd


Saleyard Auction: Saleyard Auction Source: Livestock Exchange Pty Ltd


Saleyard Reader 1: Saleyard Reader 1 Source: VLE Pakenham


Saleyard Reader 1A: Saleyard Reader 1A Source: Allflex Australia


Saleyard Reader 2: Saleyard Reader 2 Source: Aleis International


Saleyard Reader 3: Saleyard Reader 3 Source: Aleis International


Saleyard Reader 4: Saleyard Reader 4 Source: Aleis International


Abattoirs (Processors): Abattoirs (Processors) Individual Pre-processing clearances Carcase feedback uploaded electronically Direct interface to the NLIS database No throughput or labour losses – automated reading Reading systems in use; Wand Readers Panel Readers


Abattoir 1: Abattoir 1 Source: Allflex Australia


Abattoir 2: Abattoir 2 Source: Aleis International


Abattoir 3: Abattoir 3 Source: Aleis International


Entire traceability system: Entire traceability system


Disease management and traceability of other species: Disease management and traceability of other species National Flock Identification Scheme (NFIS – Sheep) introduced in 2002 Permanent whole-of-life ID for sheep and lambs Systems being developed for other species


Benefit of Hindsight: Benefit of Hindsight Implement Infrastructure before release of devices Certify Readers for suitability of use – ability to read accredited devices at required distances Centralise State Property (farm) Registry’s earlier Coordinate State based rollout Increase support resources


Strengths of Australian System: Strengths of Australian System Devices tested against a performance standard – both readability and retention Use of manufacturers code - uniqueness Central Database – independently operated Development of New Technology Ability to electronically record animal movements Faster and more accurate traceability can reduce economic impact


Are there any Questions?: Are there any Questions?