WA’s sheep and goat industry will be able to apply for $10,000 grants for equipment to facilitate the EID rollout.

GRANTS of up to $10,000 are available for hand-held and fixed electronic identification tag readers for sheep and goats, as well as scanners, in a second round of funding from Western Australia’s Cook Government.

Applications for the grants to help sheep and goat supply chain operators transition to the new mandatory national electronic identification (EID) system close on Friday, 17 May 2024.

This round of the WA Infrastructure Grants Program is aimed at smaller feedlots, seasonal operators, community organisations and grower groups to support the integration of EID scanning equipment and technology into their operations.

The state’s Tag Incentive Payment scheme offering a 75-cent discount per EID tag has also been extended for sheep and goat producers to 31 December 2024 for accredited black tags.

The grants build on the previous round of funding that targeted larger industry operators, including saleyards, abattoirs, registered feedlots, export depots and livestock agents.

WA Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis said the adoption of the new mandatory national electronic identification system is vital to protect WA’s livestock industries from increasing biosecurity threats.

“The Cook Government has committed $25.6 million dollars to help farmers integrate the cutting-edge traceability technology.

“These infrastructure grants will enable a smooth transition to the new EID system well before it comes into full operation across Australia,” she said.

The Western Australian eID system will come into full operation by 1 July 2026, when all sheep and goats will be required to be EID tagged before leaving the property and scanned at the point of arrival.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is administering the programs, working alongside the WA Sheep and Goat Advisory Group to support the transition.

For more information about the Infrastructure Grants Program and to make a grant application visit: http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/livestock-movement-identification/electronic-identification-sheep-and-goats