The NAIT scheme relies on there being a single Person In Charge of Animals (PICA) registered in the NAIT system for all NAIT animals (cattle or deer) at a location. The registered PICA should be the person most involved with the animals on a day to day basis and therefore be the person with the most knowledge about any movements or activities on farm. This allows for quicker identification of the most relevant person to the animals on farm if the need ever arises.

The PICA will be the single point of contact for the NAIT organization for any on farm enquiries and is responsible for recording animal registrations, updates and movements as well as ensuring their personal and NAIT location details are up to date at all times in accordance with the NAIT Act.

The best person to be the PICA may not be the owner of the animals, however if the you are the owner and want to see the details on the NAIT account, you can register with NAIT as a PICA delegate and request to be added to the account. PICA delegate accounts are explained below.

While there can only ever be one registered PICA for a group of NAIT animals at a location, the PICA can nominate other users to have access to their account and are able to maintain animal and NAIT number details on the account on your behalf. A PICA Delegate does not have any obligation to provide information to NAIT about the account, the PICA Farmer is ultimately responsible for the account.

Roles and responsibilities

The PICA Farmer is responsible for providing information to NAIT about themselves as the registered PICA, the animals they are in charge of and the farm location they are in charge of animals on.

Below is a list of your main responsibilities as a PICA farmer:

• Register yourself as a PICA farmer in the NAIT system
• Register your NAIT location
• Register your NAIT animals (cattle and deer) against your NAIT number
• Record animal movements on and off farm*
• Record animal detail updates including animal death/home kill, loss or intent to export

*Excluding when sending animals to an accredited meat processor or sale yard – click here for more information about sending animals to an accredited meat processor or click here for more information about sending animals to an accredited sale yard