The Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange is close to finalising the installation of electronic identification (eID) equipment and infrastructure for sheep.

The Naracoorte Lucindale Council confirmed the progress, noting that it allocated nearly $1 million in this financial year for improvements to the sheep yards.

And the council has been collaborating with the Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) since the mandated rollout of eID for sheep and goats was announced, ensuring the smooth implementation of the new systems at the facility.

PIRSA has agreed to cover up to 75 per cent of the costs associated with essential equipment—including both hardware and software—as well as necessary infrastructure upgrades.

The rollout of sheep and farmed goat eID aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of livestock traceability by moving from a visual tag and mob-based system to eID tagging, which sees microchips read by panel readers or handheld scanning wands if required.

Mayor Patrick Ross, chief executive officer Kelly Westell, director Infrastructure & Services Daniel Willsmore and NRLE manager Dianne Evans met with the PIRSA representatives, including Con Poulos, PIRSA director of Animal Biosecurity; Georgie Cornish, PIRSA executive director of Biosecurity; Skye Fruean, PIRSA chief veterinary officer; and Alice Clayfield, PIRSA animal health officer.

Mr Ross said the council was pleased to see the project enter its final stages and welcomed the PIRSA visit.

“I’d like to thank the team and agents, in particular, for helping make sure we are playing a part in the new livestock movement monitoring programs,” Mr Ross said in a statement.

“The NRLE is an important part of our local economy, and as regional South Australia’s main livestock selling centre, we recognise the role we must play in mitigating biosecurity risk,” he said.

“I’m pleased the PIRSA representatives could see progress on the project, and, while there are still some elements of the installation to go, we remain committed to building on the NRLE’s reputation as a high-quality saleyard.

According to the council, weekly sales have continued while the installation of the eID equipment and infrastructure has been underway at the NRLE, thanks to the cooperation of council staff, agents and vendors during this time, which has also seen staff and agents undertake necessary training.

Recently, PIRSA representatives called in to the NRLE as part of a visit to saleyards in the region and had the opportunity to see the progress of eID installations.

This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 16 July 2025.