Lambs with electronic ear tags.

TASMANIA’S peak farmer body has welcomed $11.6 million funding for the state’s sheep and goat producers, and livestock supply chain, to implement electronic identification.

The state’s livestock producers will be eligible for a rebate of $1 per EID ear tag and $4 per EID goat leg band under the packaged announced by the Rockliff Government.

Rebates of up to 100 percent of costs for handheld EID scanning devices will also be available for eligible producers.

Rebates of up to 75pc of costs will be available for EID scanning infrastructure for eligible supply chain participants (processors, saleyards, transit yards).

Eligible agricultural societies and not-for-profit groups will receive rebates of up to 100pc of costs for EID scanning equipment for.

The government said the infrastructure funding will be obtained through a grant scheme, with a rebate applied at the point of sale for tags.

Interim TasFarmers chief executive officer Alastair Cameron said the body is pleased by the financial package announcement and the support being shown by the government.

“When the scheme was first announced, there was a lot of pushback and concern from growers around the cost to implement what is a compulsory scheme.

“So this funding will greatly assist in getting the compulsory scheme up and running. Over time tags and reading equipment will simply become a cost to doing business like it did with cattle farmers,” he said.

Tasmania’s Minister for Primary Industries and Water Jo Palmer said the entire nation is working to introduce mandatory EID tagging of sheep and goats by 1 January 2025.

“EID’s are a valuable, on-farm and off-farm tool that are designed to assist in traceability,” she said.

“Tasmania is fortunate to have some of the world’s best produce. Traceability is important for biosecurity, product integrity and maintaining market access advantages and consumer confidence.

“In the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak or incident, it is critical that animal location and movements can be traced quickly to limit the spread of disease and reduce impacts,” Ms Palmer said.

“EIDs will further protect Tasmania’s agricultural industries.”