You’ve got the eID tags – now get the data working for you!
Are you utilising the data you’re collecting from your sheep tags? Or are you looking to simply refine your system to produce more low maintenance livestock? Looking for a practical eID or livestock tech session in your area?
Whether you’re already using electronic identification (eID) to monitor flock performance or are just starting to explore its potential, there’s an opportunity to turn that information into better management decisions and a more productive, profitable sheep enterprise.
With eID tags now part of sheep production in South Australia, the next step is understanding how to use the technology beyond livestock identification and traceability.
Depending on your enterprise goals, eID data can help you:
- Identify your most productive animals – use individual performance records to inform selection, classing and culling decisions
- Improve reproductive performance – track pregnancy scanning results, lambing outcomes and ewe productivity
- Monitor growth and wool production – compare liveweight gains, fleece weights and wool characteristics
- Set goals and benchmark progress – measure flock performance against your own targets and previous seasons
- Make more profitable decisions – identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs and focus investment where it delivers the greatest return
AWI Extension SA, together with industry specialists, has developed several practical resources to help producers confidently collect, manage and use eID data.
The resources include a catalogue of ‘10-minute talk’ presentations and SA-based producer case studies, providing insights into how sheep businesses are using eID to support breeding decisions, identify their best-performing animals and monitor productivity over time.
The real value of eID isn’t in how much information you collect, but how you use it to make decisions that improve your bottom line.
Explore free resources
Whether you’re looking to get started, improve the quality of your data or turn existing records into meaningful benchmarks, these resources are a great place to begin.
AWI Extension SA ‘10-minute talk’ presentations
- An introduction to using eID for productivity and profitability
- Types of data that can be collected using eID
- Choosing the right eID equipment and tags
- Creating an eID data plan
- Data based decision making
- Using eID for insights into your business
- Data management: an introduction
Learn from fellow farmers
Often the best ideas and practical learnings come from seeing what others are doing in their farming enterprise. To encourage peer-to-peer learning, AWI Extension SA have released a series of ‘Using eID for productivity & profitability’ case studies featuring livestock producers across South Australia, including the EP.
- Chris Lymn, Wudinna
- Kerran Glover, Lock
- Celia Kernick, Coonalpyn
- Brett Nietschke, Barossa Valley
- Darren Eatts, Wanbi
In addition, PIRSA maintains a collection of case studies featuring Merino and prime lamb enterprises, that includes examples of using eID to improve flock performance on Eyre Peninsula and across the state.
Start simple
It’s important to remember that you don’t need all the ‘bells and whistles’ to get started. You don’t even need to have a detailed strategy or data plan. Start small, for big impact. Pick 1 or 2 simple things you would like to focus on for your flock (or are already doing) – whether that be improve condition scores, or breeding low maintenance animals – you can start wherever you feel comfortable with.
Industry timeframes
South Australia is working with the Federal and State Governments, along with industry, to fully implement eID by 1 January 2027 for all sheep and goats regardless of birth year. Right now, eID is only mandatory for sheep and goats born on or after 1 January 2025 before they leave their property of birth.
Useful Websites
PIRSA Electronic Identification (eID) for sheep and goats
AWI – Getting started with eID equipment
Need more information or looking for practical learning opportunities?
If you would like an eID or livestock technology workshop or field day in your area, contact our Livestock Coordinator Hannah Gordon on 0408 311 122.
This activity is supported by the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board with funding from South Australian Government’s Landscape Priorities Fund.