Review: Sheep Traceability Systems in Selected Countries Outside of North America

Sheep are produced world-wide; more than one billion domesticated sheep populate the planet. To keep up with the ever-changing animal production industry, many countries outside of North America have initiated either mandatory or non-mandatory systems for sheep identification. Sheep identification is primarily for the control of potentially harmful diseases that may have devastating effects if they occur and are not properly managed. Australia, Namibia, and the countries within the European Union have mandatory sheep identification as a method of control and traceability for sources of disease. Non-mandatory animal identification systems are in place in several other countries, which allows those participating to continue exporting sheep meat to countries requiring sheep identification. Most countries with sheep identification use a visual ear tag system with information to allow for trace-back of the animal to its premises of origin. To record changes in ownership or geographic location of animals through the production chain, movement records are required in many countries and must be filed with proper authorities. To ensure a closed-ended system, countries with mandatory sheep identification are also required to have means of recording the death (i.e., termination) of a sheep either for slaughter or rendering purposes to ensure complete traceability of that animal throughout the production chain. Means of identification and tracking of animals continue to become more advanced, and the need for animal identification becomes progressively more critical to ensure the health and safety of the world sheep population.