Identification and movement
Identification of livestock is required by law under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management (Identification and Movement of Stock and Apiaries) Regulations 2013. It assists owners by deterring theft, recovering stolen animals and tracing diseases. Property trace-back is necessary to satisfy legislative requirements for stock destined for markets. If animals are not marked, permits to keep them will not be issued or renewed.
Deer must be transported according to the requirements of the regulations and a waybill must accompany deer anytime they are moved from a property. Waybills are used to show that deer being transported have not been stolen and to provide a means of trace-back in the event of an exotic disease outbreak. Owners selling animals must complete a waybill and a copy supplied to the purchaser and the carrier.
Other documentation covering health and fibre length requirements and quarantine certification is required for interstate and overseas imports. For health purposes, prior written approval from the DPIRD Inspector in Charge (Stock) is required to import deer to the Liver Fluke Restricted Area (the south-west) of WA.
The identification required for deer may be all or any one of the following:
- the registered brand impressed on an approved ear tag applied to the ear specified on the PIC card
- the registered earmark applied to the ear specified on the PIC card or
- an approved electronic tag (ID system).
Deer must be identified at the first muster before they reach 12 months of age or before they are moved from the property, whichever occurs first.
Deer under 12 months of age can move without identification if accompanied by their legally identified mother and movement is to another property with the same PIC.
Deer that have registered identifiers of the previous owner do not require additional identification if the present owner has proof of the purchase.
Further information about the methods for marking deer, contact the Stock office at DPIRD, Bunbury on (08) 9780 6207 or email brands@agric.wa.gov.au.
When the conditions are no longer being met
When the conditions of a permit are no longer being met and facilitation has failed to achieve the required standards or failed to result in the disposal of the animals, there is provision for the following actions to be taken under the BAM Act:
- A Pest Keeping Notice may be issued to the permit holder, requiring them to upgrade the conditions to the required standards; and if they do not do so, they will be invoiced for the work done to bring the enclosure or animals back to the permit standards (arranged by DPIRD).
- A Pest Control Notice may be issued to the permit holder to destroy or dispose of the animals and if they do not, the animals may be removed or destroyed by the department.
- The permit is revoked and the animals are immediately removed; otherwise the keeper is in breach of the BAM Act.