Sheep Producers Australia announce deal to sell sheep tags

A peak body representing the nation’s sheep producers is offering a deal to sell tags in its “first commercial partnership”.

The sheep industry’s national peak body deal with one brand of electronic tags will exclude a large chunk of Australia’s sheep producers.

Sheep Producers Australia last week announced it would venture into its “first commercial partnership” to sell products directly to producers by offering Leader sheep tags as a reseller.

But Victorian producers won’t be able to access the tags, despite having the second biggest flock number behind NSW.

SPA chairwoman Bindi Turner said the tag offering a new model for the Australian sheep industry which was used successfully in other countries and “grounded in the same principle that’s always guided us — delivering real value to producers”.

“If there are any profits, they’ll be reinvested into the sheep industry — including vital work in advocacy, biosecurity, and supporting future leaders through mentoring and development opportunities,” Ms Murray said.

She said SPA was a public company limited by guarantee, which allowed it to “pursue commercial objectives for the advancement of the Australian sheepmeat sector”.

This included the establishment of Mob Mate, the online portal on the body’s website to buy EID tags online, to “help lower the cost of compliance” and which directs users straight to the Leader Products website.

But Ms Murray also said that Mob Mate was one of 3500 entities already registered to sell tags in Australia.

She said SPA and Leader Products had a commercial agrement and the move came “after extensive industry consultation”.

But The Weekly Times understands it has caused consternation in the industry as other tag manufacturers were not approached. And some state farming organisations were not even aware of the move until shortly before it was publicly announced.

Victorian Farmers Federation livestock group president Scott Young said he only knew of the tag deal the day before it was widely publicised.

He said this was possibly because SPA board negotiations with Leader were done in confidence.

But Mr Young said it was a “challenge” for a national peak body offer a deal where one state’s producers were not eligible.

“I’ll be taking this decision to the VFF livestock group to develop a response to the move,” Mr Young said.

Australian Farm Institute business support co-ordinator Kyle Smith said the organisation considered it “business as usual” for advocacy groups to offer commercial services to members.

“Any comment regarding the appropriateness of this is a matter for the SPA board and its membership,” Ms Smith said.