INTRODUCTION

Livestock have been part of the Australian scene since 1788 with the arrival of the first fleet. There have been many discussions in past years about livestock practices and the most appropriate animal welfare practices. All livestock managers aim to ensure that stock are treated to the highest standard of animal welfare. Best Management Livestock practices include any activities which improve livestock health and reduce potential hazards. Many of the practices which are positive drivers for soil health, pasture health and biodiversity are also positive drivers for livestock health. As an example, moving stock to fresh pastures on a regular basis (planned grazing) will also reduce selective grazing, improve pasture plant health, allow recovery of grazed plants and improve weight gains and general health of livestock.

Q. Can one man move over 300 breeders, calves and bulls to the next paddock in under 5 minutes?

A.Grazing BMP paddock moves

Each state of Australia has various codes of practice for livestock management and practices. A review of the Model Codes of Practice (MCOP) in 2005 recommended they be converted into Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines. Animal Health Australia was commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) to manage the conversion process.

Under the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS) and Animal Health Australia (AHA) management, the existing Codes will be re-written in a new format, to incorporate both the national welfare standards and industry guidelines for each species or enterprise (e.g. saleyards, abattoirs). The task is to re-format each of the 22 existing MCOP into a document that combines Australian Welfare Standards and Guidelines for that species or enterprise. For more information Click here.

Basic Welfare Needs

The following is a list of basic welfare needs of livestock. It is not exhaustive, but a start to a Livestock BMP.

• adequate quantity of high quality water;
• good nutrition - quality pasture to maintain good health;
• stock should be moved to fresh pasture on a regular basis to improve animal health and weight gains;
• diet to be supplemented where necessary;
• social contact with other cattle. Cattle adapt to the familiar surroundings in which they live, including other cattle;
• sufficient space to stand, lie down, stretch and groom, and to perform normal patterns of behaviour;
• protection from predation;
• protection from disease or injury, and appropriate treatment if they occur;
• protection from adverse extremes of climate or unseasonal changes in weather conditions, where possible;
• precautions against the effects of natural disasters (eg, storage of feed to protect against droughts, provision of firebreaks);
• removal of stock from drought affected pastures;
• protection from unnecessary, unreasonable or unjustifiable pain, suffering or injury;
• stock yards should be designed so as to allow smooth movement and stock flow throughout the yards without causing stress;
• skills including low stress stock management should be used to manage stock while mustering and moving through yards;
• appropriate preventative measures should be used for diseases that are common in a district or are likely to occur in the herd;
• use of products such as the stockstill to reduce impact on stock in yards;
• weaning early to prevent cow from reconceiving;
• timed joining to the key rainfall period;
• reticulated water supply to ensure quality and quantity;
• promote dung beetle friendly practices;
• Buffalo Fly and other fly parasites should be controlled where necessary;
• parasite control is necessary when not using natural control methods.

This is a list of combined notes from many Australian sources.

For more information and to discuss any issues above Phone 0438 395 255.