A livestock agent from Healesville has been fined $1500 in a Victorian Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to charges relating to transporting animals to an abattoir that were not fit to travel. The driver did not inspect the health of the cattle he loaded onto his truck. According to Agriculture Victoria, two cows were not fit to travel. One cow had advanced lumpy jaw lesion and in the other a septic and swollen leg. The cows had to be destroyed by the abattoir’s on-plant veterinarian.
Livestock transporters must comply with the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for the Land Transport of Livestock to ensure the welfare of the animals being transported is maintained. These standards and guidelines were created to provide basis for developing and implementing consistent legislation and enforcement across Australia in relation to animal welfare and safety while being transported.
Like Victoria, Queensland has regulated into law the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for the Land Transport of Livestock as a compulsory requirement. This was implemented under and made a compulsory code requirement of the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001. The compulsory code can then be found under the Animal Care and Protection Regulations 2012. Enforcement of these laws commenced in late 2014.
In the standards and guidelines it sets out the responsibilities and duties for:
All people involved in livestock transport
Livestock consignors (may include owners, agents, drivers and transport companies, saleyards, feedlots, depots and processing plants)
Drivers and transporting companies
Receivers (persons and companies at destination)
Railway authority and associated personnel
Journey planners
If these guidelines are not followed a person may be liable for prosecution. If you have any questions in regards to the standards and guidelines for transporting livestock feel free to contact our office.