Property identification code (PIC)
If you keep livestock on your property, you must register the property and get a property identification code (PIC). This records the:
- people responsible for the livestock
- blocks of land on which the livestock are kept
- species of livestock
- number of each species.
The PIC enables PIRSA to contact livestock owners if there are:
- livestock disease outbreaks
- bushfires or floods
- animal emergencies.
PIC rules
A property identification code is required under the Livestock Act 1997 and is part of a national agreement to keep a register of livestock locations.
If you do not register your property for a PIC, you could be prosecuted and fined up to $10,000.
Properties
Only 1 PIC is needed per property. However, properties with multiple blocks of land:
- within 100 km of each other only need 1 PIC
- further than 100 km away of each other need more than 1 PIC.
You can register a property for a PIC if you:
- own or part-own the property
- occupy the property
- own livestock on the property
- manage or care for livestock on the property.
South Australia is divided into PIC zones – see the PIC zone map (). The first 2 numbers of a PIC refer to the zone the property is in.
Livestock
The same PIC can be used for all livestock species on a property. You must have a PIC if livestock are sold, sent to an abattoir, or kept as pets.
Livestock species
Livestock species
All South Australian properties must have a PIC if they keep 1 or more of the below species:
- horses, donkeys, mules
- cattle, buffalo, bison
- sheep
- pigs
- goats
- deer
- alpacas, llamas, camels.
Poultry
Poultry
If you are a commercial poultry producer of eggs or meat who is required to have food safety accreditation, you must have a PIC. This applies but is not limited to:
- chickens
- ducks
- geese
- guinea fowl
- mutton birds
- partridges
- pheasants
- pigeons
- quails
- turkeys.
PIC fees
The PIC registration fee is $102 which must be paid every 2 years. There is a late fee if renewals are not paid in full by the expiry date.
How to pay
How to pay
Online
If you are renewing your PIC through myPIRSA, you can pay online.
By phone
After you post or email your documents, we can contact you for payment.
By post
You can post your PIC documents with a cheque or money order, or include your credit card details on the form. Once we process your documents, we will remove your credit card details.
In person
You can pay for your PIC at these PIRSA offices:
- Clare
- Glenside
- Kingscote
- Loxton
- Mount Gambier
- Murray Bridge
- Port Lincoln
- Struan.
We do not accept payment using BPay, or at an Australia Post office.
Apply for a PIC
Use one of the forms below to apply for a PIC:
New applications will take 8 to 10 weeks to process if all the correct information is supplied.
Renew or update a PIC
A PIC registration must be renewed every 2 years.
A renewal notice will be sent to you 5 weeks before the expiry date.
Renew or update your PIC online
Renew or update your PIC online
- Register as a new user for myPIRSA – this only needs to be done once.
- Log in to myPIRSA and select 'Livestock'.
- Choose 'Renew or Update a Livestock PIC' – this must be done for each PIC that you have.
- Click on the PIC you want to renew or update to open the PIC registration form.
- Make any changes necessary to the data and submit the form, with payment if applicable – there is no fee for updating your PIC information.
For help with this process see:
- how to use myPIRSA
- PIC registration property rules for understanding valuation number requirements
- valuation number error messages that can occur when renewing or updating your PIC in myPIRSA.
Contact us if you require a hard copy PIC renewal form – include your PIC number.
Reissue a PIC to a new owner
A PIC cannot be transferred to another property, but a PIC can be reissued to a new owner of that property by completing a new PIC registration form – see Apply for a PIC.
Cancel a PIC
Contact the PIC registration team stating your PIC number and the reason for cancelling.
Other livestock services
The following tasks are not done through PIRSA.
Livestock Production Assurance National Vendor Declaration (LPA NVD)
Livestock Production Assurance National Vendor Declaration (LPA NVD)
Order your LPA NVD booklet by contacting Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA):
- Phone: 1800 683 111
- Press option 1
- Press option 8.
Do not choose the option for South Australia, as you will be transferred through to the PIRSA PIC registrations office, not MLA.
Updating stock movements
Updating stock movements
Contact the National Livestock Identification Scheme (NLIS):
- Phone: 1800 654 743
- Press option 2
- Press option 1
- Press option 1.
Do not choose the option for South Australia as you will be transferred to the PIRSA PIC registrations office, not NLIS.
Ordering ear tags
Ordering ear tags
All ear tags can be ordered through your local stock agent, such as Elders and Landmark.
