Tag Regulations
 Tag Regulations: National Identification Scheme (1999)
 The National Identification Scheme (introduced in 1 July 1999) by the Animal Health Board (AHB); the basis of the AHB programme is to ensure all stock (cattle and deer) are identified to the herd they are first moved from after one month of age.
This provides a start point for re-tracing the movement of any animals, which are later, found to be infected with Tb, so the source of infection can be located. The ID system has further value for on-farm and industry quality assurance and performance recording systems.
For further information on the AHB Official Identification Scheme call 0800 4 TB INFO (0800 4 824 636).
The scheme requires cattle and deer, when they are being moved from the farm of birth to be officially identified with a number showing their herd of origin, plus an individual animal number.
Within this national identification programme, two approved ID and numbering systems are available.
LIC’s – MINDA Official Identification Scheme
The LIC numbered tags will be printed with the owner's participant code plus an individual animal number which will be year coded.
AHB Official Identification Scheme
All official tags carrying numbers provided by the AHB will be printed with a seven-digit herd number. This number identifies herds within the Tb programme. An animal number will also be printed on each primary ear-tag. This number may take one or two forms:
- A year-coded number starting with the last two digits of the year selected by the owner, followed by the selected animal number. For example, an animal tagged in the year 2001 may have an animal number of 01 578.
- A non-year coded number. Owners may select individual numbers or sequences between 1 and 999,999.
Cattle and deer owners have the choice of identifying their stock with either the AHB or MINDA schemes, but should note that an animal can only be identified with one system or the other.
Stud stock farmers using registered breed society ID systems may have further access to specifically tailored ID systems through their breed society if it is registered with the AHB as a certified agency.
WHICH ANIMALS MUST BE IDENTIFIED?
From 1 July 2001, all cattle and deer one month of age and over need to be identified when they are being moved.
WHAT IDENTIFICATION IS REQUIRED?
Animal less than one month old do not need to be officially identified when they are moved.
- If animals less than one month old are moved without official identification, the subsequent owner or manager will be required to identify those animals before they are moved for a second time.
- Although not a legal requirement, identifying calves to their dam is important in the dairy industry. Dairy farmers, who use LIC's MINDA service and contract out the rearing of their calves, are strongly recommended to have their calves officially identified before they move to the rearer.
Animals over one month of age being sold or moved to another herd or property must be identified with:
- A barcoded primary ear tag and a secondary ear tag OR
- A barcoded Replacement (R) ear tag (to represent the primary ear tag) and a secondary ear tag. If the secondary tag is also unavailable use an R-tag to represent the secondary ear tag.
Animals over one month of age being sent to slaughter from the herd or origin (farm of birth) must be identified with:
- A barcoded primary ear tag OR
- A Direct to Slaughter (S) ear tag
Animals over one month of age being sent to slaughter NOT from the herd or origin must be identified with:
- A barcoded primary ear tag OR
- A Direct to Slaughter (S) ear tag
Are there any exceptions?
Animals being moved to grazing will be exempt provided they remain under the direct control of their owner and they do not mix with cattle or deer from other herds.
Animals being moved to show may be exempt but will require a special permit.
AHB recommend farmers should request a pre-sale ASD or stipulate the supply of a pre-sale ASD in the Sales & Purchase Agreement to provide an opportunity to review the herd Tb status prior to acceptance of the animal(s).
WHAT IS A ‘PRIMARY TAG’?
Primary tags are two-piece, tamper-proof yellow plastic tags that must have markings including,
» AHB ID scheme or MINDA ID scheme logo
» Barcode
» AHB herd number or LIC participant code
» Year code (for the AHB ID scheme this is optional)
» Animal number
The tag carrying this official information is to be placed in the front of the ear. This will protect the tag from the elements and ensure the bar code is readable at slaughter. The rear piece of the tag can be printed with information chosen by the farmer, and can be any colour.
WHAT IS A ‘DIRECT TO SLAUGHTER TAG’?
Direct to slaughter tags are for use only with cattle and deer being moved directly to slaughter from the herd of origin (the farm of birth).
S-tags should only be applied within one month of the animal being sent for slaughter
» If an animal is being sent to slaughter and has a primary tag than a direct to slaughter tag is not necessary.
» If an animal is not being sent to slaughter, do not tag the animal with a S-tag as the S-tag is not a substitute for a primary tag.
WHAT IS A ‘SECONDARY TAG’?
Secondary tags can be:
» Plastic visuals or buttons – can be different colours.
» Brass or nickel
» Electronic (EID) – can be HDX or FDX frequency.
Secondary tags (plastic or metal) must have markings including,
» AHB herd number or LIC participant code
» Year code (for the AHB ID scheme this is optional)
» Animal number (for the AHB ID scheme this is optional)
Electronic secondary tags must have:
» MINDA ID scheme logo
» LIC participant code
» Year code
» Animal number
» ‘Do Not Remove’ (male button)
» NAIT logo (male button)
A lost MINDA secondary tag can be rectified by insertion of a duplicate MINDA brass ear tag or a duplicate MINDA secondary button or replacement MINDA EID secondary tag.
WHAT HAPPENS IF TAGS ARE LOST?
If the original herd and animal numbers can be verified, identical replacement tags can replace missing tags.
If an animal loses its primary tag and secondary tags and the farmer cannot confirm that the animal originated from that herd, the animal can be tagged with a R-tag in order to be moved to another property, herd or to slaughter. This tag indicates the herd the animal is currently in residence.
A R-tag is a ‘replacement’ for a missing primary tag and is marked with,
» AHB ID scheme or MINDA ID scheme logo
» AHB herd number or LIC participant code
» Barcode
» ‘R’ printed alongside a sequential animal number
The R-tag is not printed with the animal’s unique identification number although this tag is a legal identification device within both the AHB and MINDA schemes, the number can only be recorded to the national database as the animals ‘name’.
The R-tag is printed with AHB herd number or LIC participant code of the herd the animal is currently in.
WHAT IS THE LAW?
Official identification of cattle and deer under the scheme has the backing of regulations under the Biosecurity Act 1993. Failure to comply with the scheme's requirements will be an offence carrying heavy fines. It is illegal to remove or deface official ear tags. All tags or tag components carrying official markings must face forward.
CONTACT DETAILS
Farmers using MINDA Official Identification Scheme should discuss their tagging needs with their LIC Customer Relationship Manager, call 0800 2 MINDA (0800 264 632), or order tags online at www.lic.co.nz.
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