Are your animals fit for transport?

NEW animal welfare signage reminding producers, agents and transporters that livestock must be ‘fit for transport’ will soon be in place at all Victorian saleyards and livestock scales.

Agriculture Victoria has developed the signs to remind all parties across the livestock supply chain about their obligations when transporting livestock.

Agriculture Victoria Livestock Welfare Compliance Program Manager Dr Rachael Holmes said the signs served as an important reminder to livestock producers, agents and transporters.

“Livestock must be inspected prior to being loaded and they must not be suffering from conditions that could cause, or would be likely to cause, increased pain or distress during transport,” Dr Holmes said.

“Any person in charge of an animal, which may include producers, farm workers, transporters and livestock agents, must not allow any animal to be loaded that is not fit for the journey ahead.

“It is the responsibility of each person in charge of the animal at each step of the supply chain, to make that assessment, and to make appropriate arrangements for the care, treatment or humane destruction of any animals that are deemed to be unfit for transportation.”

The new animal welfare signs, which will be displayed in public locations at sheep and cattle saleyards and at livestock scales across the state, aim to further promote best practice in animal welfare across the livestock industry.