Standard 6 - Air transport of livestock
Guiding principles
Animals are prepared according to required protocols, are fit to travel, and the journey is planned and undertaken in a manner that meets the importing country requirements for the air transport of livestock.
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. The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) is responsible for ensuring that these Standards and requirements are met.
- Livestock are safely delivered to an airport of the importing country.
- Statutory reporting requirements are met after the flight.
- 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.
Overview
Air transportation of livestock for export encompasses the sourcing of livestock and their on farm preparation, through to the air transportation phase of the export chain.
Transportation by air, whether on long international journeys or shorter domestic flights, requires careful planning to reduce any adverse impacts on animals. The entire export journey from the property of source to the final destination (either the airport or the receiving country’s quarantine facility) should be planned.
The airlines have a responsibility to deliver animals to their destination in such a way as to minimise any adverse effects on them.
The airline and the exporter are responsible for the care and welfare of all animals during transport, even when an attendant appointed by the exporter travels with the consignment.
Animals must be transported in aircraft holds that can be adequately ventilated, and in which the temperature can be maintained at a level that is comfortable for the animals. Airport ground power units to operate air conditioning systems may be required for certain aircraft. Aircraft carrying livestock should be loaded and unloaded as quickly and safely as possible.
International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations were considered in the development of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock.
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 exported in the consignment risk management plan (CRMP).
Where livestock for export by air transportation are transported by road to the registered premises and are prepared in registered premises, the Standards for those parts of the export chain apply.
Definitions
An approved premises is a place approved by AQIS for the pre-export preparation of livestock by air.
A notifiable incident with regard to export of livestock by air includes, but is not limited to:
- loss of aircraft
- disablement of ventilation systems on an aircraft carrying livestock causing a serious adverse effect on animal health and welfare
- rejection of livestock at an overseas airport
- a mortality rate equal to or greater than the reportable level
- any other incident that has an adverse effect on animal health and welfare.
Reportable level means, in respect of any species, the percentage listed below or three (3) animals, whichever is the greater number of animals:
- sheep and goats: two (2) per cent
- cattle and buffalo, voyages ≥ 10 days: one (1) per cent
- cattle and buffalo, voyages < 10 days: zero point five (0.5) per cent
- camelids: two (2) per cent
- deer: two (2) per cent.
Version 2.1 Standard for air transport of livestock
|
Number |
Standard |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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S6.1 |
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 S6.1a–f deleted). |
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S6.2 |
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; and (c) individually identified where testing is required during preparation. |
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S6.3 |
Livestock sourced for export and intended for human consumption must comply with Australian food safety requirements, including standards for chemical residues or environmental contaminants. |
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S6.4 |
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:
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S6.5 |
Cattle and buffalo sourced for export must have been weaned at least fourteen (14) days before sourcing for export. |
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S6.6 |
Female livestock must only be sourced for export for breeding if they have been pregnancy tested (cattle using manual palpation, other species by 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 the following maximum number of days pregnant at the scheduled date of departure:
For cattle and buffalo a declaration must be made in writing 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 alpacas and llamas a declaration must be made in writing by a registered veterinarian with demonstrable current experience in camelid pregnancy diagnosis and who pregnancy tested the alpacas and llamas. |
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S6.6A |
Cattle and buffalo sourced for export as slaughter and feeder animals must be pregnancy tested by a registered veterinarian and certified not to be pregnant. A declaration must be made in writing by the registered veterinarian who pregnancy tested the cattle or buffalo. |
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S6.7 |
Livestock that are declared to be pregnant or that have given birth in the last forty-eight (48) hours must not be tendered for transport unless accompanied by a veterinary certificate certifying that the animal is fit to travel and there is no evidence of imminent parturition. (Note: Standards S6.7a–b deleted). |
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S6.8 |
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S6.9 |
Unless approved by the relevant Australian Government agency, lambs and goat kids must only be sourced for export by air transportation if: (a) they have been weaned at least fourteen (14) days before sourcing for export; (b) lambs have a liveweight of more than 20 kg; and (c) go at kids have a liveweight of more than 14 kg. For cria (d) cria at foot have a liveweight of more than 12kg and are three (3) months old |
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S6.10 |
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; and (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. |
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S6.11 |
Horned sheep or rams must only be sourced for export 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; and (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. |
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S6.12 |
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; and (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. |
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S6.13 |
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 or approved premises. |
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S6.14 |
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; and (c) have become conditioned to being handled and to eating and drinking from troughs for a minimum of fourteen (14) days. |
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S6.15 |
Male deer must only be sourced for export if: (a) they are not in velvet or hard antler; (b) they are not in the first week after velveting; (c) velveting wounds have healed; and (d) they are outside the roar and rut periods if they are over one (1) year of age. |
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S6.16 |
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; and (b) meet transport and shipping height requirements of the intended transport (ie camels standing in their natural position do not touch any overhead structures). |
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S6.17 |
(Note: Standard S6.17 deleted). |
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S6.18 |
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. |
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S6.18A |
Female livestock must not be treated with a prostaglandin drug within fourteen (14) days of export, and not during the sixty‑day (60) 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. |
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S6.19 |
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. |
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S6.20 |
Loading density and penning arrangements for the export of livestock by air must conform with stocking densities and penning arrangements as given in Appendix 6.1 and with requirements under state/territory legislation and international requirements. |
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S6.21 |
At the point of loading of livestock for export by air, responsibility for the livestock must be transferred to the airline, which then notifies the captain of the aircraft, who has overall responsibility for the livestock and must be advised of the species, location and quantity of all livestock and of any special requirements of the livestock on board the aircraft. |
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S6.22 |
Livestock for export by air must be checked to ensure they remain fit to travel: (a) immediately before departure; (b) where feasible: (i) within thirty to sixty (30–60) minutes of commencement of the journey; (ii) at least every two to three (2–3) hours as conditions warrant; and (c) immediately prior to departure after any transit stops. |
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S6.23 |
Any livestock for export identified during transport by air as being distressed or injured must, where feasible: (a) be given immediate treatment if distressed or injured; (b) be euthanased without delay as necessary; and (c) arrangements must be made to remove or separate sick or dead livestock from pens carrying multiple animals in transit. If animals need to be off-loaded, arrangements must be made to ensure the health and welfare of the animals. |
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S6.24 |
Feed and water must be offered to all livestock for export by air while in transit if climatic conditions, species and class of livestock and total journey time warrant. |
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S6.25 |
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S6.26 |
Where the aircraft carrying livestock for export by air is on the ground (whether moving or stationary) for prolonged periods, including transit stops, the ventilation and temperature in the livestock hold must be adequate to maintain the health and welfare of the livestock. |
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S6.27 |
If a notifiable incident occurs at any time during the export of livestock by air, a report must be provided to the relevant Australian Government agency as soon as possible after the notifiable incident occurs. |
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S6.28 |
An end‑of-journey report on the health and welfare of the livestock transported by air must be prepared and provided to the relevant Australian Government agency within five (5) days of completion of discharge at final port of disembarkation and must contain the information outlined in Appendix 6.2. |
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These gestations periods were provided by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and adopted in to IATA regulations for pregnant livestock transported by air.
Appendix 6.1 Stocking density for the penning of livestock during transport by air
Tables A6.1.1 – A6.1.3 define the minimum area per head. Any decrease in the final stocking density will be determined by the certifying veterinary officer based on animal health and welfare considerations.
When calculating stocking rates, the following must be taken into account:
- It is essential that accurate final weights of livestock are obtained in view of the weight limitations imposed by the load capabilities of the aircraft and the space required per animal.
- When calculating the stocking density per pen, the number of livestock per pen must be rounded to the nearest whole number. Half of a number (0.5) is rounded up.
- The livestock must be able to stand normally, and once lying down should be able to regain their feet unaided and without undue interference from other stock.
- In multi tier penning there may be a loss of floor and height area in the upper tier due to the contour of the plane and the overall height limitation.
- When the animal stands in a natural position, no part of the animal’s body (or horns) should touch any overhead part of the container.
- The pen area per head for horned cattle, buffalo, sheep and deer must be increased by ten (10) per cent.
- The pen area for goats with horns in excess of S6.12 must be increased by ten (10) per cent. The goats with horns in excess of S6.12 are to be penned separately.
- For total journey time (from start to finish) scheduled in excess of twenty four (24) hours, the pen area per head must be increased by ten (10) per cent.
- When livestock are loaded with mixed cargoes in aircraft lower holds, the pen area per head must be increased by ten (10) per cent.
- Additional pen area requirements in points six to eight (6–8) are not cumulative.
- Consideration must be given to ambient temperatures in relation to the ventilation capacity of the aircraft at loading and stopovers.
Table A6.1.1 Minimum aircraft crate pen area for cattle and buffalo exported by air
|
Liveweight (kg) |
Minimum pen area (m2/head) |
Liveweight (kg) |
Minimum pen area (m2/head) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
150 |
0.54 |
460 |
1.19 |
|
160 |
0.56 |
470 |
1.21 |
|
170 |
0.58 |
480 |
1.23 |
|
180 |
0.60 |
490 |
1.25 |
|
190 |
0.62 |
500 |
1.27 |
|
200 |
0.64 |
510 |
1.29 |
|
210 |
0.66 |
520 |
1.31 |
|
220 |
0.68 |
530 |
1.34 |
|
230 |
0.70 |
540 |
1.36 |
|
240 |
0.72 |
550 |
1.38 |
|
250 |
0.74 |
560 |
1.40 |
|
260 |
0.76 |
570 |
1.42 |
|
270 |
0.78 |
580 |
1.44 |
|
280 |
0.80 |
590 |
1.46 |
|
290 |
0.82 |
600 |
1.48 |
|
300 |
0.84 |
610 |
1.50 |
|
310 |
0.87 |
620 |
1.53 |
|
320 |
0.89 |
630 |
1.55 |
|
330 |
0.91 |
640 |
1.57 |
|
340 |
0.93 |
650 |
1.59 |
|
350 |
0.95 |
660 |
1.61 |
|
360 |
0.98 |
670 |
1.64 |
|
370 |
1.00 |
680 |
1.66 |
|
380 |
1.02 |
690 |
1.68 |
|
390 |
1.04 |
700 |
1.70 |
|
400 |
1.06 |
710 |
1.72 |
|
410 |
1.08 |
720 |
1.74 |
|
420 |
1.10 |
730 |
1.76 |
|
430 |
1.12 |
740 |
1.78 |
|
440 |
1.15 |
750 |
1.80 |
|
450 |
1.17 |
760 |
1.82 |
For weights between those shown in the table, the minimum pen area per head should be calculated by linear interpolation.
Table A6.1.2 Minimum aircraft crate pen area for sheep exported by air
|
Liveweight (kg) |
Minimum pen area (m 2/head) |
Liveweight (kg) |
Minimum pen area (m 2/head) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
20 |
0.150 |
50 |
0.270 |
|
21 |
0.154 |
51 |
0.274 |
|
22 |
0.158 |
52 |
0.279 |
|
23 |
0.162 |
53 |
0.283 |
|
24 |
0.166 |
54 |
0.288 |
|
25 |
0.170 |
55 |
0.293 |
|
26 |
0.174 |
56 |
0.297 |
|
27 |
0.178 |
57 |
0.302 |
|
28 |
0.182 |
58 |
0.306 |
|
29 |
0.186 |
59 |
0.311 |
|
30 |
0.190 |
60 |
0.315 |
|
31 |
0.194 |
61 |
0.320 |
|
32 |
0.198 |
62 |
0.324 |
|
33 |
0.202 |
63 |
0.329 |
|
34 |
0.206 |
64 |
0.333 |
|
35 |
0.210 |
65 |
0.338 |
|
36 |
0.214 |
66 |
0.342 |
|
37 |
0.218 |
67 |
0.347 |
|
38 |
0.222 |
68 |
0.352 |
|
39 |
0.226 |
69 |
0.356 |
|
40 |
0.230 |
70 |
0.360 |
|
41 |
0.234 |
75 |
0.383 |
|
42 |
0.238 |
80 |
0.405 |
|
43 |
0.242 |
85 |
0.428 |
|
44 |
0.246 |
90 |
0.450 |
|
45 |
0.250 |
95 |
0.473 |
|
46 |
0.254 |
100 |
0.495 |
|
47 |
0.258 |
|
|
|
48 |
0.262 |
|
|
|
49 |
0.266 |
|
|
For weights between those shown in the table, the minimum pen area per head should be calculated by linear interpolation.
For sheep with more than 25 mm of wool, the pen area per head must be increased by 10 per cent.
Table A6.1.3 Minimum aircraft crate pen area for goats exported by air
|
Liveweight (kg) |
Minimum pen area (m 2/head) |
Liveweight (kg) |
Minimum pen area (m 2/head) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
15 |
0.093 |
41 |
0.218 |
|
16 |
0.098 |
42 |
0.223 |
|
17 |
0.103 |
43 |
0.227 |
|
18 |
0.107 |
44 |
0.232 |
|
19 |
0.112 |
45 |
0.237 |
|
20 |
0.117 |
46 |
0.242 |
|
21 |
0.122 |
47 |
0.247 |
|
22 |
0.127 |
48 |
0.251 |
|
23 |
0.131 |
49 |
0.256 |
|
24 |
0.136 |
50 |
0.261 |
|
25 |
0.141 |
51 |
0.266 |
|
26 |
0.146 |
52 |
0.271 |
|
27 |
0.151 |
53 |
0.275 |
|
28 |
0.155 |
54 |
0.280 |
|
29 |
0.160 |
55 |
0.285 |
|
30 |
0.165 |
60 |
0.309 |
|
31 |
0.170 |
65 |
0.333 |
|
32 |
0.175 |
70 |
0.357 |
|
33 |
0.179 |
75 |
0.381 |
|
34 |
0.184 |
80 |
0.405 |
|
35 |
0.189 |
85 |
0.429 |
|
36 |
0.194 |
90 |
0.453 |
|
37 |
0.199 |
95 |
0.477 |
|
38 |
0.203 |
100 |
0.501 |
|
39 |
0.208 |
|
|
|
40 |
0.213 |
|
|
For weights between those shown in the table, the minimum pen area per head should be calculated by linear interpolation.
For fibre goats with more than 25 mm of fibre, the pen area per head must be increased by 10%.
Table A6.1.4 Minimum aircraft crate pen area for deer exported by air
|
Liveweight (kg) |
Minimum pen area (m 2) |
Liveweight (kg) |
Minimum pen area (m 2) |
Liveweight (kg) |
Minimum pen area (m 2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20 |
0.13 |
70 |
0.39 |
230 |
0.77 |
|
22 |
0.14 |
75 |
0.42 |
240 |
0.79 |
|
24 |
0.15 |
80 |
0.45 |
250 |
0.81 |
|
26 |
0.16 |
85 |
0.47 |
260 |
0.84 |
|
28 |
0.17 |
90 |
0.49 |
270 |
0.86 |
|
30 |
0.18 |
95 |
0.51 |
280 |
0.88 |
|
32 |
0.19 |
100 |
0.53 |
290 |
0.90 |
|
34 |
0.20 |
110 |
0.55 |
300 |
0.92 |
|
36 |
0.21 |
120 |
0.57 |
310 |
0.96 |
|
38 |
0.22 |
130 |
0.59 |
320 |
0.98 |
|
40 |
0.23 |
140 |
0.61 |
330 |
1.00 |
|
42 |
0.25 |
150 |
0.63 |
340 |
1.02 |
|
44 |
0.26 |
160 |
0.64 |
350 |
1.05 |
|
46 |
0.27 |
170 |
0.66 |
360 |
1.08 |
|
48 |
0.28 |
180 |
0.68 |
370 |
1.10 |
|
50 |
0.29 |
190 |
0.69 |
380 |
1.12 |
|
55 |
0.31 |
200 |
0.70 |
390 |
1.14 |
|
60 |
0.34 |
210 |
0.73 |
400 |
1.17 |
|
65 |
0.37 |
220 |
0.75 |
410 |
1.19 |
|
|
|
|
|
420 |
1.21 |
Note: For deer, floor space must be adequate to allow deer to lie down during transport.
Loading density — camelids
- For alpacas, the stocking density table for sheep applies.
- For alpacas with more than 25 mm of fibre, the pen area per head must be increased by ten (10) per cent.
International Air Transport Association regulations stipulate that trained camels must be penned individually for air transport. However, wild-caught camels are not accustomed to individual penning or segregation and are best transported by air in cattle pens. Use of cattle pens must be limited to camels under 300 kg liveweight.
Appendix 6.2 End of air transport journey report to the Australian Government
This report must provide a general overview of the air voyage, with mention of any specific issues relevant to the health and welfare of the livestock, and must include the following information:
|
1 |
Aircraft type(s) and airline(s) |
|
2 |
Flight number(s) |
|
3 |
Departure port(s) |
|
|
Date |
|
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Total loaded, by species |
|
4 |
Transit stops |
|
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Feed and water |
|
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Access |
|
|
Maintenance issues |
|
5 |
Flight conditions |
|
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Weather |
|
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Temperature (where the livestock is kept) |
|
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Ventilation |
|
6 |
Health and welfare of livestock |
|
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Number of livestock born during the journey |
|
|
Number of abortions |
|
7 |
Discharge port(s) |
|
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Date |
|
8 |
Comments on discharge operations |