Standard 1 - Sourcing and on-farm preparation of livestock
Guiding principle
Sourcing of appropriately prepared livestock that are fit to travel is critical to successful health and welfare outcomes during export.
Required outcomes
- Livestock sourced for export must meet any requirement under a law of a state or territory relating to the sourcing of livestock. State and territory governments are responsible for ensuring that these requirements are met.
- Livestock sourced for export must meet these Standards and importing country requirements.
- Livestock sourced for export that become sick or injured during on farm preparation must be excluded from export, and arrangements must be made for their prompt and humane handling and care.
- The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) must be satisfied that these Standards and importing country requirements are met before issuing a health certificate and export permit.
Overview
This part of the export chain encompasses the sourcing of livestock for export by sea and their on farm preparation, up to the point of loading and transport to registered premises. The sourcing of livestock for export by air and their on farm preparation is addressed in Standard 6 — Air transport of livestock.
Livestock sourced for export must meet the Standards in the table below. These Standards cover relevant state and territory animal health and welfare requirements and importing country requirements. They also reflect relevant aspects of the national Model Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Animals for various species of livestock.
Exporters must source suitable livestock that meet consignment specifications such as species, class, condition, animal health status and number of livestock. Animal health and production records may be required to confirm the eligibility of proposed consignments of livestock for export.
These Standards are relevant to each stage of the livestock export chain and should be reflected in relevant quality assurance programs. Livestock sourced for export must meet any requirement under a law of a state or territory. State and territory governments are responsible for ensuring that these jurisdictional requirements are met under respective state and territory legislation. AQIS must be satisfied that importing country requirements and the Standards have been met before issuing a health certificate and export permit.
Further details regarding roles and responsibilities and the export chain process are outlined in the Australian Position Statement on the Export of Livestock.
Linkages to other parts of the export chain
In the planning phase, the exporter must specify the livestock to be sourced for export in the consignment risk management plan (CRMP). Only livestock sourced and prepared according to the approved CRMP should be presented for transport to registered premises.
Version 2.2 - Standard for sourcing and on-farm preparation of livestock
| Number | Standard |
|---|---|
| S1.1 |
Livestock sourced for export must meet any relevant animal health and welfare requirements under state and territory legislation and relevant requirements under national Model Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Animals. (Note: Standards S1.1a–f deleted). |
| S1.2 |
Livestock sourced for export must meet importing country requirements. (Note: Standards S1.2a–b deleted). |
| S1.3 | Livestock sourced for export must be: (a) identified to the property of source (b) accompanied by a correctly completed and signed declaration as to the identification of the livestock and property of source (c) individually identified where testing is required during preparation. |
| S1.4 | Livestock sourced for export and intended for human consumption must comply with Australian food safety requirements, including standards for chemical residues or environmental contaminants. |
| S1.5 | Fat Bos taurus cattle must not be sourced for export from the ports of Darwin, Weipa or Wyndham from 1 October to 31 December (inclusive). |
| S1.5A | Fat Bos taurus cattle bred in an area of Australia south of latitude 26 degrees south must not be sourced for export to the Middle East from May to October unless an agreed livestock heat stress risk assessment indicates that the risk is manageable [less than a 2 per cent risk of 5 per centmortality]. |
| S1.6 | Sheep must not be sourced for export from the ports of Darwin, Weipa or Wyndham from 1 November to 31 May in the following year (inclusive). |
| S1.7 | Livestock sourced for export must be fit to enter the export chain. Livestock sourced for export must be inspected on-farm and any animal showing signs consistent with the rejection criteria below, or any other condition that could cause the animal’s health and welfare to decline during transport or export preparation, must not be prepared for export. Such conditions include those shown below: |
| Category | Rejection Criteria |
| General requirements |
|
| Systemic conditions |
|
| Musculoskeletal system |
|
| Gastrointestinal system |
|
| Nervous system |
|
| External/skin |
|
| Head |
|
| Other |
|
| Number | Standard |
| S1.8 |
Livestock must not be sourced for export if they are in an emaciated or overfat body condition. That is: (a) cattle and buffalo must be from condition scores 2 to 6 (inclusive) on a scale of 1 to 7 (b) pregnant cattle must be from condition scores 3 to 6 (inclusive) on a scale of 1 to 7 (c) sheep, goats and deer must be from condition scores 2 to 4 (inclusive) on a scale of 1 to 5 (d) camels must be from condition scores 2 to 4 (inclusive) on a scale of 1 to 5 (e) alpacas must be from condition scores 2 to 4 on a scale of 1 to 5. See Appendix 1.1 |
| S1.9 |
Cattle and buffalo sourced for export as slaughter and feeder animals: (a) must have been weaned at least fourteen (14) days before sourcing for export (b) must have an individual liveweight of more than 200 kg and less than 650 kg or, if outside these weights, have written prior approval from the relevant Australian Government agency (c) must have been determined not to be pregnant, using the following criteria: (i) have been pregnancy tested during the thirty (30) day period before export and certified in writing as not detectably pregnant by the registered veterinarian or competent pregnancy tester[1] who pregnancy tested the cattle or buffalo (ii) be accompanied by a vendor declaration that certifies that they have been spayed using the Willis dropped ovary technique not less than thirty (30) days before export (iii) be accompanied by a vendor declaration that certifies that they have been spayed not less than two–hundred-eighty (280) days before export. (Note: Standard S1.9d deleted) |
| S1.10 |
Cattle and buffalo must only be sourced for export for breeding if they: (a) have been weaned at least fourteen (14) days before sourcing for export (b) have an individual liveweight of more than 200 kg and less than 650 kg or, if outside these weights, have written prior approval from the relevant Australian Government agency (c) are pregnancy tested and certified in writing as no more than a maximum of one-hundred-ninety (190) days pregnant for cattle and two-hundred-twenty (220) days pregnant for buffalo at the scheduled date of departure. The certification must be provided by a veterinarian who is a member of the Australian Cattle Veterinarians and an accredited tester under the National Cattle Pregnancy Diagnosis Scheme and who pregnancy tested the cattle or buffalo. For journeys less than ten (10) days a declaration must be made in writing by a registered veterinarian who can attest to demonstrable current experience and who pregnancy tested the cattle or buffalo. (Note: Standard S1.10d deleted) |
| S1.11 |
Ewes with a weight of 40 kg or more and does (goats) with a weight of 35 kg or more must only be sourced for export as slaughter and feeder animals if they have been pregnancy tested by ultrasound within thirty (30) days of export and certified not to be pregnant, by written declaration, by a person able to demonstrate a suitable level of experience and skill. (a) all female Damara sheep breeds sourced as feeder or slaughter must be pregnancy tested within thirty (30) days of export by ultrasound and certified not to be pregnant, by written declaration, by a person able to demonstrate a suitable level of experience and skill. |
| S1.12 |
Unless approved by the relevant Australian Government agency, lambs and goat kids must only be sourced for export if: (a) they have been weaned at least fourteen (14) days before sourcing for export (b) lambs have a liveweight of more than 28 kg (c) goat kids have a liveweight of more than 22 kg. |
| S1.13 | Sheep and goats sourced for breeding must only be sourced for export if they have been pregnancy tested using ultrasound foetal measurement within thirty (30) days of export and certified, by written declaration, by a person able to demonstrate a suitable level of experience and skill, to be not more than a maximum of one-hundred (100) days pregnant at the scheduled date of departure. |
| S1.13A | Alpacas and llamas sourced for breeding must only be sourced for export if they have been pregnancy tested using ultrasound within thirty (30) days of export and certified, by written declaration, by a registered veterinarian with demonstrable current experience in camelid pregnancy diagnosis, to be not more than a maximum of two hundred and twenty eight (228 +/- 2) days pregnant at the scheduled date of departure. |
| S1.14 | Deer sourced as slaughter and feeder animals must only be sourced for export if they have been pregnancy tested by ultrasound within thirty (30) days of export and certified, by written declaration, by a person able to demonstrate a suitable level of experience and skill, not to be pregnant. |
| S1.15 |
Horned cattle and buffalo must only be sourced for export as slaughter and feeder animals: (a) for cattle, if the horns are 12 cm or less in length and tipped (blunt) (b) for buffalo, if the horns are no longer than the spread of the ears and are blunt (c) if de horned, wounds are healed. Otherwise, horned cattle and buffalo must only be sourced for export with the approval of the relevant Australian Government agency. |
| S1.16 |
Horned sheep or rams must only be sourced for export as slaughter and feeder animals if the horns: (a) are not turned in so as to cause damage to the head or eyes (b) would not endanger other animals during transport (c) would not restrict access to feed or water during transport (d) are one full curl or less, or are tipped back to one full curl or less. Otherwise, horned sheep or rams must only be sourced for export with the approval of the relevant Australian Government agency. |
| S1.17 |
Horned goats must only be sourced for export as slaughter and feeder animals if the horns: (a) are not turned in so as to cause damage to the head or eyes (b) would not endanger other animals during transport (c) would not restrict access to feed or water during transport (d) Are no more than 15cms long and blunt or are no more than 22cm long with tips no more than 20cm apart. Otherwise, horned goats must only be sourced for export with the approval of the relevant Australian Government agency. |
| S1.18 | (Note: Standard S1.18 deleted). |
| S1.19 |
Sheep must only be sourced for export if they: (a) have wool not more than 25 mm in length, unless approved by the relevant Australian Government agency based on an agreed heat stress risk assessment model (b) are ten (10) days or more off shears (c) are to be shorn during the ten (10) day period before export, in which case they must be accommodated in sheds on the registered premises. |
| S1.20 | Goats must not be sourced for export unless they have become conditioned to being handled and to eating and drinking from troughs for a minimum of twenty-one (21) days before transfer to registered premises. |
| S1.21 |
Deer must only be sourced for export if they: (a) are at least six (6) months old (b) have been weaned for at least two (2) months before sourcing for export (c) have become conditioned to being handled and to eating and drinking from troughs for a minimum of fourteen (14) days. |
| S1.22 |
Male deer must only be sourced for export if: (a) they have had hard antler removed leaving only buttons (b) they are not in the first week after velveting (c) velveting wounds have healed (d) they are not in rut, if they are over one (1) year of age. |
| S1.23 |
Camels, including wild caught camels, must only be sourced for export if they: (a) have become conditioned to being handled and to eating and drinking from troughs for a minimum of fourteen (14) days (b) meet transport and shipping height requirements of the intended transport (ie camels standing in their natural position do not touch any overhead structures). |
| S1.24 | (Note: Standard S1.24 deleted). |
| S1.25 | A record of all vaccines, veterinary medicines and agricultural chemicals used to vaccinate or treat livestock sourced for export must be kept for at least two (2) years after the date of export. |
| S1.26 | Female livestock must not be treated with a prostaglandin drug within fourteen (14) days of export, and not during the sixty (60) day period before export unless they have been pregnancy tested immediately before prostaglandin treatment and declared to be in the first trimester of pregnancy or not detectably pregnant. |
| S1.27 | Livestock sourced for export that become sick or injured during on farm preparation must be excluded from export, and arrangements must be made for their prompt and humane handling and care. |
Appendix 1.1 - Body condition score for livestock
Sheep and goats
Table A1.1.1 Body condition scores for sheep and goats
| Score | Backbone | Short ribs | Eye muscle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prominent and sharp | Ends are sharp and easy to press between, over and around |
Thin, the surface tending to feel hollow |
|
2 |
Prominent but smooth | Smooth, well rounded ends — can feel between, over and around each smoothly | Reasonable depth with the surface tending to feel flat |
| 3 | Can be felt, but smooth and rounded | Ends are smooth and well covered — firm pressure is necessary to feel under and between short ribs | Full and rounded |
| 4 | Detectable with pressure on the thumb | Individual short ribs can only be felt with firm pressure | Full with a covering layer of fat |
| 5 | Can be felt with firm pressure | Cannot be felt even with firm pressure | Muscle cannot be felt due to a thick layer of fat |
Cattle
Table A1.1.2 Body condition scores for cattle
| Standard | Optional | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | Fat depth (mm) at P8 site | Score | Fat depth (mm) at P8 site |
| 1 | 0-2 | ||
|
2 |
3-6 | 2 Low (L) 2 High (H) |
3-4 5-6 |
| 3 | 7-12 |
3L |
7-9 10-12 |
| 4 | 13-22 |
4L |
13-17 18-22 |
| 5 | 23-32 |
5L |
23-27 28-32 |
| 6 | 33-42 |
6L |
33-37 38-42 |
| 7 | Over 42 |
7L |
Over 42 |
Deer[2]
These charts have been cooperatively developed for the Australian deer industry by project funding from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the South Australian Department of Primary Industries and Resources, and the University of Western Sydney. They are intended as a guide and may be amended in the future if new information becomes available. The charts have been developed to help Australian deer farmers and processors to objectively assess the body condition of deer. Body condition may influence many aspects of deer production and profitability, including reproductive performance, susceptibility to disease and returns from processed animals.
Body condition scoring is based on palpation of the spine, pelvis and rump of live animals. The simple scoring system varies from score 1 (emaciated) to 5 (overfat) and relates directly to carcase condition scores.
Table A1.1.3 Body condition scores for deer
| Score | Description | Pelvis, ribs and spine | Rump area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emaciated - no fat cover | Prominent | Concave |
| 2 | Lean - minimal fat cover | Prominent but appear rounded rather than sharp | Slightly concave |
| 3 | Prime - ideal fat cover | Not readily distinguished | Flat |
| 4 | Fat - fat (some trimming necessary) | Pelvis rounded, spine covered by fat | Rounded |
| 5 | Overfat - overfat (excessive trimming required) | Pelvis concealed by fat, spine hard to palpate | Very convex |
Camels
The condition of a camel is estimated by looking at the store of body fat (ie the hump). This reflects the internal fat reserves and provides a good correlation with total body fat. The camel deposits excess energy as fat into the hump sac and into some internal linings. This contrasts with the energy reserves of other species, in which fat is deposited into the subcutaneous tissues and internal linings and within the muscles.
Table A1.1.4 Body condition scores for camels based on the amount of fat in the hump
| Score | Description | Illustration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little or no fat in the hump sac; hump hairy and may be leaning to one side |  |
| 2 | Hump with moderate development rising five (5) per cent higher than chest depth, but may also be leaning to one side |  |
| 3 |
Hump with good development and rising to ten (10) per cent higher than chest depth. Hump is still sculptured inwards on both sides and still fits over the chest and abdominal area |
 |
| 4 | Hump fully developed and rising to fifteen (15) per cent higher than chest depth. Hump rounded outwards on both sides and runs from the shoulder to the rump |  |
| 5 | Hump overextended and rising more than fifteen (15) per cent higher than chest, or so full that it is rounded on the sides like a semicircle |  |
Further information can be found on the Camels Export Australia website.
Alpacas
The picture below is an example of how to body score an alpaca by placing your hand on the backbone, just forward of the pelvic area (or toward the last of the ribs).
Table A1.1.4 Body condition scores for alpacas
| Score | Description | Illustration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Severely concave between spine and ribs. The backbone is very noticeable, ribs are clearly felt and brisket shows no fat. |  |
| 2 | Slightly concave between spine and ribs. You can feel backbone, ribs are noticeable and brisket is firm. |  |
| 3 |
Neither concave nor convex between spine and robs. You can feel the backbone, but it does stand out and you can just feel the ribs and the brisket. |
 |
| 4 | Slightly convex between spine and ribs. You can feel the backbone, but it does not stand out and you can just feel the ribs and the brisket. |  |
| 5 | Severely concave between spine and ribs, the top of the back feels flat. You can not feel backbone or ribs, brisket wobbles when touched. |  |
Further information can be found on the Australian Alpaca Association website.
Buffalo
Body condition scores for buffalo are under development.
[1] A competent pregnancy tester is a person accredited by the Northern Territory or Western Australian Government for the state in which the pregnancy test was performed.
[2] Available from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC)