Several other big yards across the eastern States are expected to follow suit in the coming weeks as operators’ frustration with the technology builds.

Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association Queensland chairman, Noel Grant, Dalby, said this week that up to 12,000 cattle were now being scanned each sale using hand wands at the Roma saleyards.

Mr Grant, who is also general manager of Grant Daniel and Long Livestock and Property, said the switch had been made to allow agents to comply with NLIS.

“Roma had major problems as far as scanning (cattle) with the race readers,” he said.

Mr Grant said the wand readings – completed overnight before the sale – were accurate and didn’t stress the cattle.

According to the ALPA newsletter, Roma spent $270,000 on the run-through scanners that have now been switched for the cheaper hand-held wands.

Mr Grant said, in contrast, the Dalby saleyards by using hand-held readers had spent little on implementation and the system was working well.

Wagga Wagga Livestock Market-ing Centre executive officer, John Knight confirmed that other saleyards were heading down the same track as Roma.

“I got a letter from another saleyard in Queensland asking if we wanted to buy their gear,” he said.