The debate continues to rage between farmers and government around the controversial Animal Identification Scheme, NAIT, set to hit farmers later this year.

The scheme requires all newborn and existing livestock to be clipped with low frequency ID ear tags, as of November this year.

NAIT CEO Russel Bernard says the scheme will satisfy international demand for reliable import data, in a world where food safety is becoming far more important.

"The overriding message from us is, industry leaders and the government have committed to the mandatory use of tracking system in New Zealand

"This company is industry owned, and we’ve been set up to move the idea of NAIT into a working system."

Mr Bernard says the example of countries like Australia, who have successfully implemented a scheme should convince any doubters of NAIT’s worth.

"The conversations we’ve had with farmers indicate that it’s working.

"We have announced just prior to Christmas that we’re working closely with the Australian National Livestock Identification Scheme to see whether their database can operate in New Zealand.

"We’re hopeful that many of the transitional issues faced in Australia can teach us a lesson about how we can avoid them."

Farming lobby groups, however, say the costs of implementation outweigh the benefits, especially to those in the already struggling red meat sector.

Federated Farmers Spokesperson Lachlan MacKenzie says the scheme is already rife with problems, and forcing it on farmers is not the answer.

"As far as we can see it, there is a lot better way of going about this.

"We’re saying it should be a voluntary system, we shouldn’t go into this with haste.

"We’ve gone into the ETS with haste, no-one has followed us, and we don’t want to make the same mistakes."

Mr MacKenzie says technological problems with the system will slow things down, especially in areas where internet access is a problem.

"We’re not against modernising our paper based systems to an electronic system, but a lot of farmers simply don’t have internet!

"At the moment I don’t even have phone coverage, let alone broadband, so if I was selling cattle today, what would I do?

"How would I get any information to NAIT with no phone or net coverage?" 

If you'd like to find out how the NAIT scheme will affect you, or for transtion information, head to their website, here.