1Timeofffoodandwaterpriortoloadingis7Vehicles,andfacilities(holding,loading,orsheep. Dogs which areknownto biteare
managedand,ifthejourneyis likelyto exceedunloading)areconstructed,maintainedandmuzzledwhenusedtomovesheep.Dogsin
24 hours, recorded and providedto theoperatedin a way thatminimises riskto thethevicinityofsheep arekept under control. transporter welfareof sheep
13Electricprodderarenotused:
2Ifthejourneyis likelyto exceed24hours,8Vehiclesandfacilitiesareappropriateforsheep;• on genital, analor facial areas;or
recordsofthedateandtimeof accessto water,witheffectiveairflowandflooringthatminimises•on sheep under threemonthsof age; or
inspectionsandsubsequentactionsandthelikelihoodofslippingorfallingorinjury;free•on sheep thatare unable to move away;or emergencycontactsareprovidedtothe frominternalprotrusionsandotherobjectsthat • excessivelyonansheep.
transporter.Theserecordsareupdatedandcouldcauseinjury;andwithsufficientvertical
passedonto thenextpersoninchargefortheclearanceto minimisethelikelihoodof injuryTIME OFFWATER,JOURNEYSAND SPELLS
durationofthejourney14Transportandspelltimescomplywiththetable
9.Therampandthevehicleareproperlyaligned,belowand the criteriafor calculating timeoff
3Sheep;areprepared,inspectedandselectedasso anygap betweenthem isnarrowenoughto water and journeyduration areapplied anmet*
being‘fit forthe intendedjourney’.minimisethe likelihood of injury during loading
and unloading
4.Thelivestockcrateisinspectedimmediately
beforedeparture,toensurethatdoorsareclosedLOADINGAND OFFLOADINGOFSHEEP
andsecured10Loadingdensityminimisesrisktosheepand
considerstheirclass, sizeandbodycondition
PRE-TRANSPORTSELECTION OFSHEEPandwoollength,thepredictedclimatic
5Sheeparenotloaded iftheyare:conditions, the nature ofthe journey and the
•unabletobearweightonall legs;ordesignandcapacityofthevehicle.
•severelyemaciated;or
•visiblydehydrated;or11Sheeparesegregatedaccordingtotheirclass
•showingvisiblesignsof severeinjuryorandsize;generalhealth,levelofaggression;
distress; orand the nature ofthe journey to minimise risks
•sufferingfromconditionsthatarelikelytototheirwelfare. / Class / Maximum timeoff water / Minimum Spell duration
Sheep known or visually assessedto be,between
14weeksand19weeks pregnant / 24 / 12
Sheep known or visually
assessedto bemore than
19 weekspregnant / 4 / 24
Lactatingsheep / 28 / 12
Sheepunder4months / 28 / 12
Other sheep / 48 / 36
causeincreasedpainordistressduring
transport;or12SheeparehandledappropriatelyandNotes
•blindinbotheyes;orcompetently.Theyare:•Ifsheeparespelledforthedurationstatedin
•inthelastfourweeksofpregnancy(unless•notliftedbyonlythehead,ears,horns,thetableabove,thetransportprocessis
the time off waterand journeyis lessthanneck, tailor wool; ordeemedto becompletedandanother fourhoursdurationandthedestinationis • notliftedoffthegroundbyasingleleg, transportprocesscanbeundertaken.
directlyto anotherproperty)unlesstheyweighlessthan15kgs•If sheep are unloadedandprovidedwith unlessunderveterinaryadvice • supported andsecured ifliftedmechanically; water for lessthan 4 hours, theirtime off
•notthrownordropped;water,isnotreduced.
6Sheepthatarenotfitto loadaremanaged,•notunreasonablystruck,punchedorkicked;• Ifwateris providedforbetween4and24 treatedorhumanelydestroyedpromptly • notdraggediftheycan’tstand,(exceptfor hours,thetimeforwhichsuchaccesswas
emergencyhandling,lifting,treatmentorprovidedis deductedfromthetimeoffwater. destruction).
•Thetimeoffwateris calculatedbyadding: assemblytime;timeinaholdingfacilityprior toloading;loading;timeonavehicle; unloading;holdinginahandlingfacility duringtransitorata destinationuntilwater
isprovided.
15Timeoffwaterminimisesriskstosheepand
takesinto account:
•increased riskof journeys closeto the maximumtimeoffwater;
•assessmentthatthesheeparefitforthe remainderofthejourney;
•climaticconditions,especiallyheatorcold;
•theclassof sheep, especially if weak, pregnant,recentlyhavinggiven birth, lactatingor immature;and
•thenatureoftheintendedjourney
16Intheabsenceofrecords,onarrivalattheir
destination,sheeparewateredwithinthe
maximumtimeoffwaterfortheirclassand,if theirmaximumtimeoffwaterisreached, spelledbeforecommencinganotherjourney
HUMANE DESTRUCTION
17Ifasheepiskilled,itisdoneinamannerwhich
resultsinrapidlossofconsciousnessfollowed
bydeathwhileunconscious
18Sheeparekilledbyapersonwhoiscompetent
in themethodof killing. If thereisno
competentpersonavailableandthepersonin charge of thesheepat thetime considers that
heis capableof killingithumanelyandif itis in the welfareinterestof the sheep, hemay killit.
19Weak,illor injuredsheepareidentifiedtothe
receiverandseparatedforrestandrecovery,
treatment,orhumanedestructionpromptly.
20A sheepwhichhasbeenkilledischeckedto
ensurethatit isdead
23Blunttraumaisonlyusedto killsheeplessthan
24hoursoldandisasingleblowtothehead.
24Sheepareonlykilledbycuttingtheirthroatsif
thereisno firearm orcaptive bolt available.
DURINGTHE JOURNEY
25Sheepareinspected:
•on the vehicle before departure;and
•withinthefirsthourof thejourney;and
•atleastevery3hoursorateachdriverrest stop,whichevercomesfirst,to assessthe sheepasbeingfitforthejourney
•each time the vehicle stopsfora change of driver orvehicle;and
•at unloading;.
26Ifaninspectionfindsthatansheepis
distressedor injured,it isattended to atthe
firstreasonableopportunity
27Theimpactof severeweatherisminimised
during transport
ONARRIVALATTHE DESTINATION
28Thereceivalyardis inspectedbefore
unloading,to ensurethatthereisaccessand
sufficientspaceforthesheep tobeunloaded
29Thereceiverisnotifiedofthearrivalofthe
sheep(ifpossible)and,ifthejourneywas
over 24hours,provided with the recordsof the journey
30Weak,illor injuredsheeparepromptly
identifiedto thereceiverandseparatedfor
restandrecovery,treatment,ordestruction
AustralianLivestockTransport
StandardsandGuidelines
SheepTransportChecklist
Thischecklist appliesfrom thetimesheepare assembledfor transportuntil theyareunloaded, andfedandwateredorkilledattheir destination. It isaseriesof outcomestatementsbasedon LivestockTransport Standardsastheyapplyto sheep. Thesearethecriteria thatinspectorswill usewhen theyconduct aroutineinspectionof arrangements.
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES