A New Code Of Conduct For Livestock Transport
AUSTRALIA - Animal health Australia have turned their attention towards the welfare of livestock during transportation. Uniform operating standards, covering issues such as loading densities and water deprivation times have been proposed, but will the livestock industry take heed of its proposition?
2 April 2007
2 minute read
Changing national and international attitudes to livestock management practices present a challenge to livestock producers to further improve animal welfare management. Animal Health has been working with industry to develop national codes of practice for moving stock such as sheep, cattle and goats and expects a draft to be ready by June.
A consultant working on the project, Michelle Edge, insists that the changes won't bring the industry to its knees, but will implement essential and basic animal welfare practises.
"Things like responsibilities of the livestock transport operators, vehicle maintenance and design issues that may relate to animal welfare loading and unloading and transport of livestock, handling of livestock and humane destruction," she said.
In 2004 the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS) was agreed by all stakeholders and sets the scene for the future strategic direction of livestock welfare. The AAWS supports processes that can achieve sustainable improvements in livestock welfare based on national and international benchmarks, scientific evaluation and research, and changes in community values.
Good livestock welfare standards are consistent with good production outcomes. If livestock welfare standards are below community expectations both on the domestic and international markets, or there are negative perceptions about the livestock welfare standards applied, there is a risk it will impact on sales and market access.
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