Charlotte Varcoe
THE future of sheep sales at the Mount Gambier and District Saleyards is uncertain with funding streams for new infrastructure to support sheep and goat electronic identification (eID) unknown.
Sheep and goat eID will soon be mandatory for processors after the federal and state government passed legislation in 2022 to move towards the traceable system.
South Australia will transition to eID in two stages with sheep and goats born on or after January 1, 2025 needing to be identified with a National Livestock Identification System eID tag before leaving their property.
As of January 1, 2027 all other sheep and farmed goats leaving a property will also need to be accredited with the eID tag.
Applications for up to 75 per cent rebate of the costs for processors are now open and will remain open until June 30, 2025.
According to a District Council of Grant Mount Gambier and Districts Saleyard Strategy Committee report, the South Australian Sheep eID Industry Committee have met twice and released a set of equipment and infrastructure rebate guidelines.
In the report, it was stated staff members were currently working through pricing for the application with council needing to apply on a “needs analysis basis”.
It stated the “infrastructure offered in the guidelines would not allow the sheep saleyards to operate effectively at site”.
Stock agent and Mount Gambier Combined Agents member Sam O’Connor said he was concerned about whether the saleyards could receive the full funding for the infrastructure upgrades.
“The funding model the government has put forward to implement this, we believe, is highly flawed and it is a policy which has been brought in as a knee-jerk reaction to an exotic disease outbreak in Indonesia,” Mr O’Connor said.
“They are saying there is a chance to politicise this by saying they are beefing up biosecurity and they are putting in this policy for sheep and goats but they have not got the funding to implement it.”
Mr O’Connor said this would then force the saleyard operators and producers into funding the implementation of the scheme.
“It is my understanding implementing the infrastructure could cost up to $700,000 for the Mount Gambier Saleyards,” he said.
“For animal welfare outcomes and for usability we need to retrofit the loading ramp in the saleyards with the proper equipment.”
He said with the grading model the state government has released, the Mount Gambier and Districts Saleyards has been labelled as a “minor saleyard”.
“It comes back to how each saleyard is graded to what funding they get and it is my understanding that because of where we have fallen as a saleyard we are eligible for a rebate of up to 75 per cent,” Mr O’Connor said.
“That is completely unworkable and puts a huge strain on resources but animal welfare of the sheep and lambs there.”
He said there was a “lack of funding” put forward by the state government to enforce the legislation and viability of the saleyards.
“We are not concerned about the cattle side of the saleyards but we are extremely concerned about the sheep side,” Mr O’Connor said.
“I know both private and community saleyards are also very worried about this as well as saleyard users, producers, agents are also very worried because it brings into doubt the viability of saleyards within the state.”
Minister for Primary Industries Clare Scriven was questioned by Shadow Minister for Primary Industries Nicola Centofanti on the saleyard size categories and whether she would consider averaging the throughput for each saleyard over the next five years.
Ms Scriven told The Border Watch as part of the state government program for sheep eID rollout, the Mount Gambier and Districts Saleyards would be able to apply for a 75 per cent rebate on the total cost of essential equipment including hardware and software as well as infrastructure to ensure it is “fully equipped” to meet its “regulatory obligations” under the system.
“The Sheep and Goat eID Implementation Guidelines for Saleyards provides an itemised list of the equipment and infrastructure upgrades considered essential for saleyards to meet their regulatory obligations,” Ms Scriven said.
“The list includes eID readers, laptops/computers, tablets, software, WiFi upgrades, and structural modifications like protective coverings for eID equipment and structural modifications to accommodate eID scanning in pens and drafting races.”
She said quantity or cost limits on these items have been set under the rebate scheme and were based on the size of the eligible saleyard.
“The quantity and cost limits detailed in the Guidelines are based on modelling carried out on behalf of the National Sheep and Goat Traceability Taskforce – which featured input from national livestock peak bodies, major processors, and state departments – as well as modelling undertaken by ACIL Allen,” she said.
“Where a saleyard requires equipment or infrastructure above or different to the quantity or cost limits set out in the Guidelines, the applicant will be required to submit a needs analysis to PIRSA for independent technical assessment.”
Ms Scriven said the rebate to support saleyards with the establishment costs of essential eID equipment and infrastructure was “uncapped” and subject to an independently assessed needs analysis.
“The South Australian rebate allows flexibility to provide greater support for saleyards which can demonstrate that equipment purchases and structural upgrades are essential to their operational needs to meet minimum eID traceability requirements,” Ms Scriven said.
“To assist with the implementation of the eID system, Primary Industries Regional South Australia (PIRSA) have established an Industry Advisory Committee of key stakeholders, which includes a representative of the Mount Gambier and District Saleyards.
“I have had several meetings with the District Council of Grant on the implementation of sheep and goat eID as well as other matters.”
She said PIRSA also consulted with South Australia saleyards last year and took in its feedback when designing the final guidelines.
“There are also planned activities for saleyards to learn from Agriculture Victoria’s eID transition experience to assist them with any queries regarding the modifications required for their facilities,” she said.
The District Council of Grant was contacted for comment.
