NSW Department of Primary Industries

Ahead of the NSW state election on 25 March 2023, the NSW Government caretaker period has commenced. Limited updates will be made to this website during this period.

8-Step guide to moving and selling pigs

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A pink and black piglet is standing and an ear tag is present.

The NLIS (pigs) enhances Australia’s ability to maintain market access and helps to quickly contain a major food safety or disease incident. NLIS allows animals to be tracked from property of birth to slaughter, for biosecurity, food safety, product integrity and market access purposes.

Step 1: Make sure you have a PIC.

Have you got an active PIC? Contact your nearest Local Land Services (LLS) or phone 1300 795 299.

Step 2: Register and order a swine brand

  • Contact LLS to register your swine brand
  • Order a branding tool from your local rural supplier, OR

Step 3: Order NLIS accredited pig ear tags.

Order NLIS ear tags from your local rural supplier:

  • for all pigs < 25 kg live weight, or
  • for pigs > 25 kg if no brand is available

Step 4: Register with the PigPass database to obtain an NVD.

Visit the PigPass database to register. Helpdesk phone 1800 001 458 (8.30 am - 5.00 pm Monday to Friday) or email helpdesk@pigpass.com.au

Step 5: Identify pigs correctly.

Attach NLIS tags just prior to movement to minimise possibility of lost tags.

Pigs can have only one ‘breeder’ tag, but more than one ‘post-breeder’ tag.

Use a swine brand for pigs > 25kg:

  • pigs born on the property are branded on the left shoulder, and
  • pigs that have been introduced or of unknown origin are branded on the right shoulder.

Step 6: Complete PigPass NVD (If you sell or move pigs).

Complete a PigPass NVD online up to 5 days before the movement, or in hard copy using a PigPass NVD book. If using hard copy, keep the original pink carbon copy and give 2 copies (white and green) to the transporter.

The transporter keeps the green copy and hands the white copy to the receiver. If using an electronic NVD then all copies will be the colour paper you print on. Make sure you print 3 copies, one for your own records and 2 to give to the transporter.

A sample form for demonstration purposes

Click to enlarge.

Step 7: Complete transfer on PigPass database (If you buy or receive pigs).

When pigs arrive on your property from another property you must record the movement onto your PIC using the serial number of the PigPass NVD. Record the movement into the PigPass database within 2 days.

Complete a transfer in 5 simple steps:

  1. Log onto the PigPass database with your username and password.
  2. Select the P2P Movement button.
  3. Type in the serial number of the PigPass NVD provided to you and press Lookup. Press Clear to start again.
  4. Check that the source PIC on the PigPass NVD matches the source PIC on the screen.
  5. Fill in the required information:
    1. Destination PIC
    2. Time the pigs resided on the source property
    3. Number of pigs received
    4. Date of movement
    5. Condition
    6. Press ‘Choose file’ to upload image of PigPass NVD
    7. Click ‘Submit’ button

Step 8: Keep all PigPass NVD record for 3 years.

This may be either electronically or in hard copy form, as long as it is easily accessible.

Identification of pigs

< 25 KG > 25 KG

Only an ear tag

A round yellow and orange ear tag

Swine brand (preferred)

A swine brand is a series of number tattooed onto the skin

OR

An ear tag

A round yellow and orange ear tag

Types of tags

All NLIS tags for pigs must include the NLIS logo, a letter ‘P’ inside a circle and your PIC.

Ear tag colours

Breeder tag: Attach to pigs born on the property a yellow ‘breeder’ tag in the left ear.

Post-breeder tag: Attach to pigs born on another property an orange ‘post-breeder’ tag in the right ear.

 

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au