National Livestock Identification System for sheep and goats
The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) is Australia's system for identifying and tracing livestock.
Properties with any number of sheep or goats require a property identification code (PIC).
When sheep or goats are moved to another property or location with a different PIC it must be recorded on the NLIS database. Movements must be accompanied by approved movement documentation which must be kept for 7 years by the seller and receiver.
This process enables animals to be traced to their property of birth and last property of residence. It also allows Australia to:
- contain and manage major disease or food safety incidents
- support access to export markets.
Transition to electronic identification
Currently, sheep and farmed goats in South Australia must be identified with a visual NLIS tag under the mob-based system.
From 1 January 2025, all new-born lambs and kids will need to be identified with an NLIS accredited electronic identification (eID) tag before leaving their property of birth.
Learn more about transitioning to eID for sheep and farmed goats.
NLIS tags
There are 2 types of NLIS devices, also known as tags, used for the permanent identification of sheep and goats.
See the full list of accredited devices for sheep and goats (PDF).
Breeder tags
Breeder tags are for identifying animals still on their property of birth. They can be any colour except pink.
It is recommended that coloured tags are attached according to what year the animal is born, although this is voluntary in SA.
The year of birth tag colour for 2024 is black.
Post breeder tags
Post breeder tags are pink. These identify sheep and goats that have moved from their property of birth and:
- have lost their original tag
- it is impractical to record the birth PIC on movement documentation.