is it fit to load in the middle east.

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Is it fit to load in the Middle East?

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This guide was developed by the Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and LiveCorp Joint Livestock Export Program.

“Is it it to Load in the Middle East” was derived from “Is it it to load?” the Australian Guidelines developed in collaboration with:

Meat and Livestock Australia

WA Department of Local Government and Regional Development (DLGRD) Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA)

RSPCA

For more information contact: Meat & Livestock Australia

Ph: +973 1722 3003 Fax: +973 1722 5394

Published by Meat & Livestock Australia Limited June 2008

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The preparation and treatment of livestock that are it to travel is critical for successful health and welfare outcomes that underpin the live export trade. “Fit to travel” infers animals can complete the journey without their welfare being unacceptably compromised.

This places an obligation upon all involved with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) standards, including shipping agents and stevedores, importers, transport operators and stockmen handling Australian livestock.

This guide assists in detailing the standards that should be applied to ensure the health and welfare of livestock during transport. It illustrates the types of stock that should not be transported or that require special consideration and treatment if the alternatives are limited.

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Countries importing Australian Livestock should obey local legislation and World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines. Land transport of livestock in the Middle East is the responsibility of all involved. Their welfare during transport will be assisted by applying the recommendations described in the guide. Good animal welfare makes good sense, as it results in healthier, more productive animals and ensures

the sustainability of the trade. The standards contained in this guide apply to all stages of transport in the Middle East, from port, to feedlot, to abattoir.

For further information on OIE guidelines, visit http://www.oie.int/ eng/normes/MCODE/en_chapitre_ 3.7.3.htm

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R is NOT blind in both eyes

R is strong enough to undertake the journey

R can walk normally, bearing weight on all four legs

R is NOT suffering from any visible signs of disease or injury that could cause it harm during transport

R can keep up with the group at loading

R is NOT in late pregnancy

R is NOT sick, injured, weak disabled or fatigued

R and is NOT visibly heat stressed

Good preparation of all livestock is essential to prevent suffering during transport. Livestock should be prepared for transport according to OIE guidelines.

The฀images฀and฀recommendations฀in฀

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Before yarding:

• Ensure your stockyard and loading ramp are in good condition

• Ensure your transport vehicles are in good condition and safe for transport • Avoid extreme weather, where practical

At yarding:

• Use low stress handling for yarding and loading • Ensure animals are adequately rested prior to loading

• Segregate livestock appropriately – don’t mix large and small or strong and weak animals

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• Lameness

• Visible disease or injury • Weakness

• Complete blindness • Late pregnancy • Heat stress • Horn status

• Animal health status • Water deprivation time

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LAMENESS

One฀or฀more฀legs฀cannot฀bear฀weight

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A฀visible฀condition฀likely฀to฀cause฀further฀pain฀or฀suffering฀during฀transport

Note฀–฀This฀is฀a฀guide฀only.฀The฀responsibility฀not฀to฀cause฀unnecessary฀harm฀still฀rests฀with฀the฀ person฀in฀charge฀of฀the฀animal.

Open฀wounds Cancer

Cancer

Swollen฀testicles

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Inability to keep up with the mob during both loading and unloading

WEAKNESS

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10 Unable to see at all

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Ewes more than four months pregnant and cows more than eight months pregnant should not be transported

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12 Animals that are exhibiting signs of severe heat stress

Heat฀affected฀sheep฀and฀cattle

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Horned animals - Are they fit to load?

Slaughter and Feeder Cattle

• 12 cm maximum length and blunt ended

Slaughter and Feeder Sheep and Goats

• Horns must not be turned in so as to damage the head or eyes • Horns must not endanger other animals

• Horns must not restrict access to feed or water

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Animal Health Summary

Animals with the following conditions are not fit for loading?

Note฀-฀Please฀consult฀the฀OIE฀guidelines฀for฀a฀complete฀list฀of฀health฀rejection฀criteria.

Pinkeye Fly฀strike

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Dehydration is a major potential risk to the well being of livestock being transported. The following are suggested maximum times for water deprivation under normal environmental conditions. Deprivation time is the total continuous time livestock are without access to water during mustering, yarding, curfew, transport and at their destination after unloading. Cattle must not normally be deprived of water for more than 36 hours. Mature sheep and goats must not normally be deprived of water for more than 32 hours. Young

sheep (less than six months old) and young goats (less than 12 months old) must not normally be deprived of water for more than 20 hours.

Operators in the Middle East should consider time off feed and water from when stock leave the vessel and not only in the feedlot. Also, hotter conditions exist in the Middle East and the effects of heat will be greater. The times should be reduced in hotter weather.

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Each animal should be inspected by a veterinarian_{or an}animal handler_to

assess itness to travel. If its itness to travel is in doubt, the animal should be examined by a veterinarian_{. Animals}

found unit to travel should not be loaded onto a vehicle, except for

transport to receive veterinary treatment or in circumstances where leaving the animal will further compromise and worsen its welfare. In these circumstances, animals should be provided special treatment and care and not transported with the rest of the fit and healthy livestock. Downer animals risk being trampled.

Livestock that need obvious veterinary treatment should be transported in a smaller specialized vehicle that is specifically reserved for sick and injured animals. The driver should be specially trained and aware of the importance of taking extra care of these animals. In severe cases, animals may be best transported direct to an abattoir for immediate processing.

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Summary

Ask these questions before you load any animals for transport:

• Has the animal been prepared according to the relevant husbandry and transport procedures as outlined in the OIE guidelines?

• Can it walk normally and bear weight on all four legs?

• Is it free from visible disease or injury?

• Can it keep up with the lock/herd at both loading and unloading?

• Can it see?

• Is it in late pregnancy?

• Is it exhibiting signs of heat stress?

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Is it fit to transport in the

Middle East?

If in doubt, leave it out.

For more information contact:

Meat & Livestock Australia Ph:+973 1722 3003 Fax: +973 1722 5394

Published by Meat & Livestock Australia Limited June 2008