Greyhounds Australasia (GA) Members at their November Board meeting considered revised recommendations in regard to the microchipping of greyhounds for the Australian and New Zealand greyhound racing industries.

After considering the revised recommendations the GA Members resolved that:

1. All greyhounds whelped from 1 January 2011 are to be microchipped and ear branded in one ear.
2. All existing racing stock will be allowed to race without a microchip until they retire.
3. From 1 January 2012 all racing greyhounds will be eligible to race if indentified by a microchip and one ear brand or two ear brands for existing racing stock until they retire.
4. A minimum financial commitment of $120,000 per annum is to be provided by GA over the next 3 years to support the microchip project. That is, a minimum total contribution of $360,000.
5. A working committee is to be formed to support the implementation of the microchip project.

Greyhounds Australasia Chief Executive Officer, Craig Taberner said, “It has been some two years since the microchip sub committee was formed and the topic discussed by GA Members, the Board is to be commended for working through the issues and drawing this matter to a conclusion.”

“Mr Taberner went further to say that this decision was not made lightly with the Board recognising it’s obligations to closely monitor the implementation process leading up to 1 January 2011 and beyond.”

“It is hoped participants embrace the change" and Mr Taberner noted several of the key matters associated with the introduction of microchips:

• The removal of the requirement to tattoo both ears continues the industry’s objectives to improve its animal welfare practices
• The mandatory tattooing of one ear removes the suggestion that participants would need to purchase a scanner. Importantly, it negates integrity concerns raised in some jurisdictions about the potential removal and duplication of microchips
• GA’s minimum financial commitment of $360,000 to its members will reduce any financial impost associated with the change
• GA will consider a bulk purchase of some scanners in an attempt to provide a cost neutral position for interested participants and jurisdictions
• The dual ear brand and microchip system improves integrity in instances where tattoos may be difficult to read
• Microchips provide the industry with the opportunity to embrace technology, which overtime will provide operational efficiencies and financial returns for the industry. Future technology advancements may include:
  • automatic weighing systems
  • automatic uploading and downloading of data into jurisdictional computer systems which previously was manually entered
  • provide alternatives in respect of labor intensive industry processes like the manual marking of greyhound registration certificates. That is in the longer term, the production of registration papers may not be necessary

If participants have any questions in relation to this matter, please contact GA or your respective Controlling Body.

Craig Taberner
Chief Executive Officer
Greyhounds Australasia
PO Box 239 Springvale VIC 3171
Fax: 03 9548 3488
Email: admin@galtd.org.au