Saleyards throughout Victoria are set to switch on to new technology from March 31 with all vowing to be ready for the introduction of scanning of electronic identification eartags.
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With less than a fortnight remaining until the deadline, yard operators have been putting the final touches to their facilities to ensure compliance.
Saleyard scanning and data capture is the third stage of a process that was set in train from January 1, 2017 when all sheep born from that date were required to be tagged with electronic identification.
The second phase was the requirement for abattoirs to scan and upload lamb data.
Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford told parliament recently that work was underway around Victoria to help maximise the benefits of electronic identification across the sheep and goat supply chain.
The saleyard equipment and software is funded through the state government’s $17 million sheep and goat transition package, and to date, almost 10.7 million sheep and goats have been electronically tagged in Victoria since the reform began.
Around the yards
Horsham: Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange manager Paul Christopher said agents were doing trials to familiarise themselves with the scanning software and hardware.
He said that involved using tablets and the procedures around the capture of data.
New equipment including scanners to be installed post draft in the saleyards four drafting races at Horsham had also been ordered..
Warracknabeal: Yarriambiack Shire is working towards upgrading software at its Warracknabeal Regional Livestock Exchange.
Council infrastructure services manager Bernie Naylor said works were progressing with the supply and installation of scanning hardware into the drafting races at the town's saleyards.
Mr Naylor said once the hardware and software was installed and operational, training would be provided to all users, including agents and staff.
Edenhope: These Rodwells-owned yards run three sales of about 4000 to 8000 head a sale.
The yards do not have the annual throughput to justify installing its own scan equipment.
The saleyards will be subsidised by the state government for two to three years to engage a contract scanner.
Nhill: These small usage saleyards are owned by Hindmarsh Shire.
Principal operator, Driscoll, McIllree and Dickinson said it was pursuing, through its shire funding, installing its own equipment.
Ouyen: Manager Prue Lynch said the yards had installed Aleis scanners and would be ready by March 31.