Sheep traceability

B+LNZ is advocating for practical, cost-effective ways to strengthen sheep traceability. Traceability is an important part of preparing to respond to potential disease incursions. 

Incursions of foreign animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease could be devastating for farmers, livestock industries and New Zealand’s economy. 

The response to Mycoplasma bovis showed how important it is to quickly trace animal movements to find, contain and control infectious diseases.  

Any sheep traceability system must be efficient and appropriate for sheep, given their lower disease risk profile and the fact they’re moved far less frequently than cattle.  

Consultation on this issue (February–April 2026)  

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is seeking feedback on options to enhance the traceability of pigs and sheep in New Zealand to better manage disease outbreaks like foot and mouth disease. ​ 

MPI is proposing three options to enhance traceability for pigs and sheep. ​ 

  • Option one: maintain the status quo with current ASDs. 
  • Option two: mandate electronic ASDs (eASDs) for mob-level tracing. 
  • Option three: include pigs and sheep as NAIT species for mob-level tracing. 

You can find more information about the consultation on MPI's website.  

B+LNZ will make submission on the consultation. 

B+LNZ’s view  

We believe the best way to strengthen sheep traceability in a practical, cost-effective way is via option 2- making eASDs mandatory - as it builds on existing requirements and will require fewer legislative changes to implement.  

B+LNZ is opposed to Option 3 because we are concerned that the current wording of the consultation document signals this option could include ear tagging of sheep. Option 3 would also take longer to implement than mandating eASDs, delaying the improvements to sheep movement traceability we wish to see.  

Mob-based tracing, rather than individual EID tagging of sheep, represents the most efficient, cost effective and appropriate system for sheep. 

Currently, livestock movements are recorded using either paper Animal Status Declarations (ASDs) or electronic ASDs, which provide some degree of mob-based traceability 

While paper works, its use slows down investigators during a fast-moving disease response because tracing every movement relies on a physical paper trail. 

Phasing out the use of paper to record movements of groups of sheep and moving to completely electronic systems would allow farmers to record movements of sheep mobs online or via a phone app, significantly improving speed and accuracy during a disease investigation, without introducing individual sheep tagging. 

Recent experience has shown that many farmers and meat processors already using eASDs find them efficient and easy to use and the costs of this system are substantially lower than for NAIT. 

Meat processing companies also tell us eASDs are administratively simpler. It is easier to respond to errors, meaning less disruption for processors and ultimately benefiting the farmer. Electronic records will also strengthen our ability to respond effectively to future food safety issues in animal products. 

Further information