{"id":326051,"date":"2022-11-08T15:37:14","date_gmt":"2022-11-08T05:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=326051"},"modified":"2022-11-08T16:00:25","modified_gmt":"2022-11-08T06:00:25","slug":"feedback-sought-on-cattle-branding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2022\/11\/08\/feedback-sought-on-cattle-branding\/","title":{"rendered":"Feedback Sought On Cattle Branding"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Agriculture Minister Mark Furner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

November 8, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

The State Government is seeking feedback on proposed changes to cattle branding laws, including the introduction of an annual fee to renew brands and earmarks.<\/p>\n

Producers could also decide to stop branding their cattle altogether.<\/p>\n

Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said the government was keen to hear from stakeholders.<\/p>\n

\u201cBranding could remain mandatory or producers could be allowed to decide whether or not to brand or earmark their cattle under a voluntary approach,\u201d Minister Furner said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNone of the proposals involve removing the ability to brand, rather, livestock owners would be given the freedom to decide what\u2019s in their own best interest.<\/p>\n

\u201cQueensland\u2019s Brands Act 1915 is more than 100 years old and has not been significantly changed in decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why Queensland needs a modern approach to brands and earmarks that is more efficient for livestock owners and gives them a choice.”<\/p>\n

He said brands no longer serve the significant biosecurity function they once did.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWith advances in technology, there are now far more effective ways of tracing livestock in the event of a disease outbreak,” Minister Furner said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot all cattle owners want to brand. However, for those who see value in using a brand to identify stock, branding would still be available under both of these proposals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Queensland and the Northern Territory were now the only Australian jurisdictions that mandated the use of livestock brands.<\/p>\n

Mr Furner said current fees did not reflect the cost of the staffing levels and IT systems needed to administer brands.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving a renewal fee will cover administration costs and free up unused brands for livestock producers who currently find it hard to register the brand they want,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n