Yes, we are very lucky in that respect....we have the only true traceable paddock to plate system in the world with NLIS
NLIS, interesting.
I am some what skeptical it can be traced to the plate in an large abbatoir... but I've not been in one.
Does the NLIS # stay with the carcase components once it is broken down? Most likely that rumps would be packed (and processed through the chain) with rumps etc from differing beasts; are the numbers attached to each subsequent component of the broken down carcase? (i'd imagine it to be cost prohibitive). It wouldn't be often that one beast is packed into one box (and labelled with its origin)? I'd imagine that once the whole carcase has been accepted for human consumption by a meat inspector that is where NLIS traceability stops (at the whole carcase level). If something renders it condemmed, then they could trace it back to the property and through paddock records etc to where it was to address any concerns. If not, it's passed and no need to track it any more.
In some cases with a special order, you might be able to get a PIC # with a box of beef (all animals from the same property) and this translates to knowing which property the beef on your plate came from. Having said that, some properties in the NT are pretty big (1 & 1/2 million hectares for instance) and you wouldn't know if beef from that property all came from the same paddock (could be fats drafted from a couple of musters?) . This would be like coming from different properties in other parts of Australia and therefore there could be different conditions (or disease risks etc) in the paddocks (which as I said could be the size of entire properties in other areas).
I do know that fair number of NLIS tags are misreading at the abbatoirs during receival, I do not know how this affects labelling/numbering of the carcase. Some of the larger grazing companies could have beasts from 5-6 properties all lumped together going to the abbatoir. With a misread in this situation, the processors only know the company (not the property) to report (and thence a caution or fine from the Gov't).
With a special order from a small butcher, eg ordering a whole side, a whole sheep etc, where you get roasts, chops, sausages perhaps from the one animal, maybe then you could get an NLIS # for your meat. I doubt many would bother with the paperwork trail though. A small butcher may know where his beasts came from (particularly if he runs his own small abbatoir) but most would just buy carcases or broken down carcases from large abbatoirs.
I did see something once about persons posting paddock pictures of beasts (Wagyu or the likes) and you could order meat from the animal whose picture you liked (if you could read Japanese)...
So I guess it CAN be traced from paddock to plate but I doubt if it is practical in large throughput production and I don't think most would bother unless they have a niche market with punters paying mega bucks for the product.
Verdict: possible - yes; probable - not likely.
I'd really like to know more if this is not correct.
*** If you reside in a country other than Australia***
What I said above is untrue. Aussie beef is traced from our paddocks to your plate. The tracking number dissapears from your steak when you cook it.
Buy more Aussie beef; 'throw anutha steak on tha barbie maaate, good onya'.