Livestock kills and movements

As a Person in charge of Animals (PICA) at a meat processing location, you're responsible for recording all movements of NAIT animals on and off your premises within 48 hours. It is an obligation under the NAIT Act.

You must also monitor pending movements recorded to and from your NAIT location and confirm or reject movements as required within 48 hours.

Receiving animals at your location

On receiving NAIT animals at your meat processing location, you are responsible for recording the following information in the NAIT system:

  • registering as a PICA meat processor 
  • registering each plant with a NAIT number
  • the movement of the individual animals you receive on your premises
  • the slaughter information for each animal
  • tagging and recording a movement for any animals that are on sold or moved off the premises.

Accredited meat processor

If you are an accredited meat processor, you can record a single receiving movement that completes both components of the movement on behalf of the sending PICA. This means that the sending PICA needs only to:

  • ensure their animals are fitted with NAIT tags and registered in the NAIT system
  • provide their correct NAIT location number so the meat processor can record the movement and slaughter of the animal.

Recording information to NAIT

To record both movement and slaughter information you will need to perform a kill upload in NAIT.

Sending animals from your location

When on-selling or contracting out animals for grazing from your meat processing location to another NAIT location, you must record a:

  • receiving movement to your location
  • sending movement from your location.

Exemptions

The following animals are exempt from NAIT requirements.

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Bobby calves

Calves under 30 days of age consigned direct to slaughter (bobby calves) are exempt from NAIT tagging and animal movement requirements. It is not a requirement to upload kill data to NAIT for bobby calves.

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Unsafe to tag (UTT) or untagged animals

Animals considered too dangerous to tag qualify for an Unsafe to tag (UTT) exemption provided they are going direct to slaughter. UTT animals must be marked with a red X and declared in NAIT before they are moved. The meat processor charges a levy of $13 (plus GST).

Levies

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Exempt animals

Fallow deer may move between farms, but an exempt animal movement must be recorded in the NAIT system. The PICA must be registered in the NAIT system and provide an annual tally of exempt animals at their location.