Downloading and completing plain livestock waybills

Page last updated: Wednesday, 17 May 2023 - 8:25am

Please note: This content may be out of date and is currently under review.

Under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management (Identification and Movement of Stock and Apiaries) Regulations 2013, all movements of livestock must be accompanied by a valid waybill. 

A valid waybill (a national vendor declaration (NVD)/waybill, Pigpass NVD/waybill, plain waybill or equivalent) must accompany all movements of livestock off a property.

The exceptions to this are horses, donkeys and camels, which only require waybills if they are being consigned to abattoir for human consumption. Waybills are not required for ostrich movements.

 

Example of 2019 plain waybill

When can plain waybills be used?

Plain waybills can be used in certain circumstances and with particular species. They are used when an NVD is not required, for example, transporting an animal to a veterinarian or an agricultural show, between properties owned by the same person or for species for which an NVD is not available – such as alpaca.

Plain waybills contain space to record both consigning and destination property identification codes (PICs). 

Plain waybill books are available from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) Stock Brands office in Bunbury or individual waybills can be downloaded from the DPIRD website from the below link:

Link to: Download a blank waybill

Each new waybill downloaded will have a unique serial number as required by the regulations. Only download one waybill and then make two copies of that waybill. If you download three waybills, each will have a different serial number.

The waybill must be completed in triplicate and all copies kept for seven years.

Who is responsible for providing a waybill?

The person who owns or manages the property from which the stock are leaving, not the livestock carrier, is responsible for providing a waybill. This may not be the owner of the stock when an on-farm sale has occurred.

When livestock are being moved to a location for a short time and then all returned to the original property in the same consignment, a single waybill can be completed with the following destination e.g. ‘to vet/showground etc and return’. Both PICs still need to be recorded on the waybill.

The original of the movement document must accompany the stock and be handed to the consignee or recipient of the stock at the destination. The carrier retains the first copy and the second copy remains with the consigning owner.

Movements that require an NVD/waybill

Commercial requirements dictate that a Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) NVD/waybill is required for movements of cattle, sheep and goats to a saleyard, abattoir or export depot, for sales to other producers and movements to different PICs. For all movements requiring a NVD/waybill, call the LPA program on 1800 683 111 or visit www.mla.com.au for information on how to become accredited with LPA to access NVD waybills.

Pig movements

A PigPass NVD waybill is the commercially required document for the movement of pigs to a saleyard, abattoir or export depot, for sales to other producers and movements to a different PIC. For all movements requiring a PigPass NVD waybill, call PigPass on 1800 001 458 or visit https://pigpass.australianpork.com.au/faq.

Registering as a livestock owner

All people who own or manage livestock are required to be registered with DPIRD and have a current PIC for the property/ies where they intend to keep their livestock to assist with disease and chemical residue traceability.

There are now two avenues to register: via the new online Brands Portal or with the existing paper-based applications. The Brands Portal is a secure website that allows Beekeepers, Livestock owners and supply chain location operators to manage their registrations online. It is the preferred option for submitting registrations. To register as an owner of stock, login to the Brands Portal online.  

You will be taken to the Welcome page which will guide you through the Digital Identity setup and Brands Portal login procedures. If you are unable or prefer not to use the Brands Portal, you can complete and forward the change of details form to the Stock brands office via email or post. There is no charge for these changes.

Instructions for completing waybills

All parts of the waybill must be completed.

  • Owner’s name: Record the owner’s names or, if applicable, the owner’s registered trading name as shown on the PIC card.
  • Property addresses: There must be enough detail to fully identify the property where the animals were moved from and to. Properties should be listed on the relevant PIC cards.
  • Consignor’s PIC: The owner’s/consignor’s PIC registered to the property the animals are moving from (PIC of consignment).
  • Consignee’s name or trading name: Must have enough detail to identify the consignee (purchaser/receiver).
  • Consignee PIC: Consignors must obtain a PIC from the consignee (purchaser/receiver) before the stock move and record it on the waybill (PIC of destination).
  • Person completing the waybill: Person’s name and initials, or full name, and address of where they can be contacted must be completed.
  • Description of stock: Record the number of stock, the species, breed, age, sex and colours where applicable. Where lots are mixed, identify those that are the majority of the consignment.
  • Brand on stock, or brand or PIC on NLIS tag, or type of NLIS device (as required for each species listed below - the registered identification on stock that must be recorded on the waybill.)
  • Cattle & buffalo: Record if the cattle and buffalo have been identified with an NLIS RFID ear tag or with an NLIS rumen bolus. The PIC from the NLIS number is not required to be written on the waybill. The brand or earmark may be recorded in the appropriate column on the waybill.
  • Sheep: Record the brand or PIC of the last NLIS tag applied. If the animals are identified with an NLIS electronic device, note this. The earmarks may be recorded on the waybill.
  • Goats: Record as for sheep except for unidentified goats in pastoral areas moving direct to abattoirs. For these, write ‘unidentified’ in the table and record the brand or PIC of the property they are being moved from in the relevant column.
  • Pigs: In the brand column, record the owner’s/vendor’s tattoo number, as applied just before movement. If tagged, record the PIC on the last NLIS tag applied.
  • Alpacas llamas & deer: Record the brand or approved identification details on the ear tag attached to the animal.

Contact information

Livestock ownership, identification and traceability
1300 926 547