May 31, 2006

Australia upgrades cattle traceback system
 

Australia announced an upgrade to its cattle traceback system, which it said had seen a sharp increase in usage since its introduction in 2005. 

The National Livestock Identification System, or NLIS, is regarded as a technology that has a critical role to play in building Australia's premium beef exports markets and fostering trust among the consumers of Australian beef.

More than 143,000 farms and 38 million electronic devices are registered on the mandatory database of the NLIS, according to Meat & Livestock Australia Ltd. The NLIS database records an average of 41,000 cattle movements a day.

Changes to the NLIS would improve the navigation and usability of the system's database, MLA said.

Australia exports about two-thirds of its beef, with more than 90 percent going to Japan, the US and South Korea.