Assessment of Blue Trace and SCL small stock EID hardware and software

Mandatory scanning of eID sheep and goats became mandatory throughout Australian processing plants over the past 18 months. The initiative aims to enhance biosecurity, improve livestock traceability, and support market access by linking each animal to its property of origin via the NLIS system. 

Each processing plant is a complex and unique system making a ‘one size fits all’ approach to having traceability through a processing plant not feasible. Previous studies outlined that more work needs to be done to fully understand and provide solutions to key issues regarding scanning of eID animals in smallstock processing plants.  

This project evaluated the potential benefits and aimed to increase industry knowledge on the use of BlueTrace and SCL RFID scanning technology across four processors in NSW and Western Australia as an alternative to Allflex which was previously assessed.  

The project plan and objectives were developed with AMPC and the four processing plants. A phone meeting with each processor was conducted to discuss their current systems, project focus areas, timelines and a potential date for a site visit from a NSW DPIRD representative. A phone meeting or face to face meeting was also conducted with BlueTrace and SCL personnel to gain an insight into the technology being installed as well as the barriers and challenges throughout the installation and trialling of the systems.  

Site visits to each processing plant enabled trials to be conducted on the installed technology as well as outlining the systems implemented, performance, effectiveness, what could be done differently or improved and other key benefits. Trial results highlight the potential of both BlueTrace and SCL technology to deliver industry-leading read rates and compliance results with current eID requirements. 
 
Individual evaluation reports that endeavoured to enhance industry knowledge and understanding of these alternative technologies were developed for each processing plant while highlighting several key learnings and recommendations for industry in this report.