The assumption that a tag suitable for sheep should also work for goats is being tested in field trials.

Until December 2008, dairy goats are exempt from the National livestock Identification System (NLIS), while a broader range of tags is being scrutinised to overcome ear infection.

"While there are different requirements among States, NLIS includes the Australian goat industry, and ultimately all goats will need to be identified with a tag to conform," Mick Prendergast, from Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), said.

In 2007, a small trial was started on four goat properties; two dairies, one fibre goat property and one meat goat property.

Five different types of tags typically used on goat properties were trialled.

Mr Prendergast said the extensively-run goats on the fibre and meat goat properties had no problems so far with tag application or retention.

However, the dairy goat properties showed high levels of ear infection, so further work is planned in 2008 to investigate a broader range of tag types in different environments, and to assess the causes and seek best prevention of infections.

There may be range of reasons why the performance of some tags on goats differs from sheep.

"In terms of behaviour, goats tend to be much more adventurous than sheep and tend to climb more and put their heads into more obscure places," Mr Prendergast, MLA’s manager of NLIS for sheep and goats, said.

"This is likely to result in more snagging of tags and higher loss rates, particularly of larger tags.

"Goats also seem to spend considerable time chewing each other’s tags."

For management purposes, goat breeders generally require larger, visually readable tags, particularly with dairy goats.

Mr Prendergast said larger tags may record higher loss rates than smaller one-piece tags.

"Considering environmental factors, most goats are run more intensively than sheep and dairy goats in particular are handled more frequently," he said.

"Many of these goats are housed intensively which increases the risk of snagging and loss."

Anatomical differences play a role too, particularly with dairy goats.

The ears appear to be thicker and fleshier and appear to be more sensitive, which appears to impact on the air space of the tag and subsequent level of infection.

"The trials this year will hopefully provide better guidance on which tags are best for use in the goat industry," Mr Prendergast said.

Contact Mick Prendergast, MLA, Brisbane, (07) 3620 5219.