Brand and identify livestock

Some species of livestock in the Northern Territory (NT) must be individually identified for both ownership and movement recording purposes.

To find out more read the fact sheet on livestock movement and identification in the NT.

Fact sheet on livestock movement and ID in the NT PDF (44.9 KB)
Fact sheet on livestock movement and ID in the NT DOCX (167.5 KB)

NT brands

Your cattle must be branded using the NT branding system to establish ownership of individual animals. This also assists with disease control and chemical residue trace-back programs.

All cattle over eight months old must be branded before they are moved off a property.

Horses, buffalo and camels can also be branded but it is not legally required.

National Livestock Identification System

The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) is Australia's system for identifying and tracing cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats for food safety, product integrity and market access purposes.

It is a permanent whole-of-life identification system that allows animals to be tracked from the property of birth to slaughter or export.

In the NT all cattle must have an approved NLIS device attached to their right ear before they are moved off a property, regardless of where they are going.

This section contains information about both NT brands and the NLIS system.