Animal Identification Bill

Cheryllyn Dudley MP (ACDP)

Friday, 16 November 2001

Cheryllyn Dudley MP for the African Christian Democratic Party gave the following speech on the Animal Identification Bill in Parliament yesterday:


Madam Speaker

The ACDP supports this important bill. Anything we can do to stop stock theft is a good thing and this bill will act as a deterrent and in the event of a dispute proof of ownership will be easier.

Of course, in light of the new technology available these methods are very old fashioned and government should be looking at using more advanced technology such as a micro-chip in the animals ear. The information recorded on the micro-chip, such as age, weight, vaccinations etc., would be linked to computers and would improve levels of stock farming. State vets handle every herd once a year or every two years for vaccinations and could easily impregnate the micro-chip into the animal and register the fact. According to my information this technology is already available to every state vet.

Branding of animals is not ideal as hair grows over the brand mark and it can also be altered. In addition skins are a major export commodity and major car companies source leather in South Africa. Branding damages the leather resulting in less money for the skins or very light branding.

This bill, is an improvement, our only reservation is that it does not take us into the twenty first century.

The ACDP supports this bill.


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For more information please call Cheryllyn Dudley MP at 082 8906520 or ACDP Media Liaison Liza Bloemetje at 082 4781037