National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT): Who Qualifies and What You Get
Learn about the mandatory traceability system for cattle and deer owners in New Zealand to help manage disease outbreaks.
The National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) system is a mandatory program used to track animals to help manage and control disease outbreaks. This traceability system is a critical part of managing biosecurity for the livestock industry.
Who it's for
This scheme is mandatory for anyone who owns cattle or deer. If you have these animals on your property, you are required to be part of the system to ensure all livestock can be tracked throughout their lives.
What you get
By participating, you support a national traceability system designed to track animal movements. This system is essential for managing and containing disease outbreaks, such as Mycoplasma bovis. By maintaining accurate records, the system helps protect the health of your livestock and the wider agricultural industry by allowing authorities to pinpoint exactly where a disease may be spreading.
What it costs you
It is free to register for the scheme, but there are ongoing responsibilities and costs involved in maintaining compliance. You are responsible for the physical tagging of your animals to ensure they can be identified. Additionally, you must invest the time required to report all animal movements within 48 hours of the movement occurring. Staying on top of these records is a necessary part of managing your livestock.
The catch to know
The most common mistake people make is forgetting to update their NAIT account when stock moves between different properties. Because the system relies on real-time accuracy to be effective, failing to record a movement immediately can lead to gaps in the traceability data.
How to apply
- Visit the official NAIT portal to begin the registration process for your account.
- Ensure every animal under your ownership is correctly fitted with the required NAIT tagging.
- Establish a routine to record and report all animal movements within the 48-hour window.
- Regularly check your account to ensure all stock movements between properties are accurately documented.