All cattle, sheep, goats and deer must be identified with an NLIS device before leaving any property or entering South Australia from another state. Ensure privately purchased stock are transferred to your property on NLIS. Keep records of stock / NLIS ID numbers and movements.
Where possible, keep yarded stock close to home. Check yards regularly for signs of unexplained use.
Drones are increasingly used by criminals to gather information and have emerged as a favourite tool for livestock thieves. Report suspicious activity, including drone sightings, to police.
Here is further information on preventing theft of your livestock.
Report loss
Check livestock regularly. Report loss of stock or batches of NLIS devices.
All properties running designated livestock must be registered with the Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) and issued a Property Identification Code (PIC). Even if you only have one animal. To obtain your PIC, contact PIRSA at www.pir.sa.gov.au/property identification code (PIC) or phone 1800 654 688 National Livestock Identification System (NLIS)
- All cattle, sheep, goats and deer must be identified with a NLIS before leaving any property or before entering South Australia from another state and be accompanied by a correctly completed movement document. Movement to a different PIC must be recorded on the NLIS database within two days of movement for cattle or seven days for sheep or goats. Producers should check that all NLIS devices are still present before each movement commences and replace any that are lost.
- All pigs must be identified with either a pig brand or tattoo or a PIC ear tag before leaving any property, unless the movement of pigs is between different PICs, where ownership does
not change. Movement must be recorded on the PigPass database within 48 hours. - Have an NLIS database account to receive automated notifications if something doesn’t match up on the NLIS database for electronically identified stock.
Maintain accurate records
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of individual stock identification numbers and stock totals including purchases, sales, deaths and rations. Photograph or video valuable stock.
- Documentation must be retained for seven years by the person who consigned the stock and by the person who has purchased or received the stock.
Physical security
- Maintain boundary fences to avoid stock straying from your property.
- Stock should not be left in yards or holding paddocks next to stockyards unless they are in sight of home.
- Stock handling facilities (yards and race) should be kept locked and regularly checked for signs of unexplained activity (damaged gates, fresh manure/hoof prints).
- Dogs are aware, often before their owners, of the presence of strangers around your property. Whether pets or working animals, dogs can be a good deterrent to intruders.
Report loss
- Livestock should be regularly checked and stock theft reported to police and the NLIS ID (the number on the outside of the tag) advised to NLIS as soon as possible.
- Batches of missing electronic NLIS devices should be reported to police as soon as possible and can be recorded on the NLIS database.
- Missing/lost stock can also be recorded on NLIS. Contact Integrity Systems on 1800 683 111 for advice on how to do this.
Download PDF