❓ Mr. Stephens inquires about the Minister's awareness and potential support for reflector ear-tags to improve livestock visibility on roads. The Minister acknowledges the concept but expresses concerns about cost, durability, and effectiveness, declining to mandate or subsidize their use.
AnsweredQoN 8230Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the Minister aware of efforts to encourage the use of reflector stock ear-tags to improve visibility of branded cattle and sheep that have strayed onto the roads and highways of regional Western Australia?
(2) What steps will the Minister take to advance the interest of road safety, particularly in the state's regional areas, by either promoting or requiring the use of reflector stock ear-tags?
(3) Will the Minister allocate funds to:
(a) produce locally and, if not, why not; and
(b) distribute reflector stock ear-tags and, if not, why not?
(2) What steps will the Minister take to advance the interest of road safety, particularly in the state's regional areas, by either promoting or requiring the use of reflector stock ear-tags?
(3) Will the Minister allocate funds to:
(a) produce locally and, if not, why not; and
(b) distribute reflector stock ear-tags and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
7 August 2012
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
49 days
(1) I refer the member to the publication WA Local Government Association (WALGA) Regional Roundup Volume 4 Issue 8 October 2009 Page 8. The major interstate stock ear tag manufacturers have investigated the use of reflector ear tags for stock. One company is trialling tags as mentioned in the WALGA document and may make them commercially available. Another had previously produced reflector ear tags for cattle but has not produced any in recent years due to lack of demand. The reflector tags are at least twice the cost of the normal non reflective tags and this has resulted in low uptake of the technology. In addition the reflectivity of the tags that have been previously produced did not last more than 2 years. I am unaware of any reflector ear tags available for sheep.
(2) I am unaware of evidence that reflector tags will significantly improve road safety. Cattle or sheep are rarely involved in road accidents, in comparison to wildlife, on main roads during either the day or night and there is little evidence reflector tags would prevent those accidents. Some properties have significant traffic through the property. Mechanisms to reduce road accidents on these properties are being addressed at an individual level. The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) requires stock to be identified before they leave the property. NLIS tags are relatively small and are fitted deep within the ear to promote whole of life retention. Making these tags reflective will not enhance visibility or improve road safety. Current legislation does not require cattle owners to ear tag cattle before they leave the property.
The legislation requires sheep to have NLIS accredited ear tags. Accredited tags are required to meet retention standards and are therefore small and retained close to the ear. Increasing tag size decreases the retention rate. Legislation of reflective tags would significantly increase the regulatory burden on producers.
(3)(a) Producers can utilise reflective tags on a voluntary basis, however manufacturers have not found a high demand for the product. The government will not subsidise production of reflector tags.
(b) Traceability of cattle and sheep for food safety and disease control is legislated by government; complying with the legislation is the responsibility of owners. Use of reflective tags for traceability is unlikely to be successful due to the retention issues.
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(2) I am unaware of evidence that reflector tags will significantly improve road safety. Cattle or sheep are rarely involved in road accidents, in comparison to wildlife, on main roads during either the day or night and there is little evidence reflector tags would prevent those accidents. Some properties have significant traffic through the property. Mechanisms to reduce road accidents on these properties are being addressed at an individual level. The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) requires stock to be identified before they leave the property. NLIS tags are relatively small and are fitted deep within the ear to promote whole of life retention. Making these tags reflective will not enhance visibility or improve road safety. Current legislation does not require cattle owners to ear tag cattle before they leave the property.
The legislation requires sheep to have NLIS accredited ear tags. Accredited tags are required to meet retention standards and are therefore small and retained close to the ear. Increasing tag size decreases the retention rate. Legislation of reflective tags would significantly increase the regulatory burden on producers.
(3)(a) Producers can utilise reflective tags on a voluntary basis, however manufacturers have not found a high demand for the product. The government will not subsidise production of reflector tags.
(b) Traceability of cattle and sheep for food safety and disease control is legislated by government; complying with the legislation is the responsibility of owners. Use of reflective tags for traceability is unlikely to be successful due to the retention issues.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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