Selling Cattle

In the old days selling a few excess cattle by a hobby farmer was quite easy.
You found out the date of the local sale, called up a livestock transporter who delivered the cattle to the sale yard the day before and in a week or two you would get a cheque in the mail.
Then the regulators stepped in.
Each rural property over a certain size (it varies according to district) pays a levy to a government entity which delivers the frontline animal health service in the state, safeguarding agricultural production from the biosecurity risks posed by disease and pests. They also manage travelling stock reserves, stock movement and identification and assist with drought relief. In fact the levy was waived this year because of the drought conditions.
The levy is charged on a two-tier basis, involving a general rate paid by all landholders and a supplementary animal health rate for those with stock.
Each property is issued with a Property Identification Code (PIC).
Some time ago, regulations called for ear tags, later electronic versions, identifying the property of origin of the animal via the PIC to be attached to each one.
Any movement, whether it be to a sale yard or just down the road for pasture agistment, has to be accompanied by official paperwork.

This enables disease control and traceability of stock consigned for human consumption.
It is known as the NLIS or National Livestock Identification Scheme.
Ok…..a bit of a task for the hobby farmer but not too onerous a one.
But now the MLA, Meat and Livestock Australia, has appeared on the scene.
Their mission is “to foster the long-term prosperity of the Australian red meat and livestock industry by investing in research and marketing activities.”
They want all red meat producers to be accredited to a Livestock Production Assurance program (LPA) which is an independently audited, on‐farm assurance program covering food safety, animal welfare and biosecurity. It provides evidence of livestock history and on-farm practices when transferring livestock through the value chain.
This involves seven study modules and an open book on line ‘exam’ (100% pass rate required) plus, of course, an application fee.
Producers can opt out of this step but it is made clear animals may not be accepted for sale or be subjected to lower than market prices if a vendor decides to do so.
So after a some delay and more than a little procrastination, I decided to go ahead with the process.
With so many long hours in aircraft during May/June it will be an opportune time to do the module work.
With the way climate change is developing, it may be necessary to reduce my small herd one day and the less hassle doing this the better.