Livestock Export Review

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Last updated: 13 Sep 2011

Grant Brooks

Relating to the terms of reference part

  1. The OlE standards as set out in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2010) and accepted by 178 member countries, which incorporate all major importers of Australian cattle, should be mandated as the basis for World’s Best Practise.
  2. ASEL is comprehensive, realistic and achievable.
  3. Each consignment of cattle we supply to exporters is required to be accompanied by a signed Vendor Declaration of herd health. Please see example attached - (Feeder Cattle To.PDF).

  4. Bos Indicus cattle are most suitable for equatorial destinations due to heat and tick resistance. This is the primary reason they are bred in northern Australia and because they also suit the market conditions of these countries. Bos Taurus cattle or their crosses are preferred in most Middle Eastern and European destinations.

    Market demand for feeder cattle below 3 50kg shows a preference for younger, lighter weight cattle in importing countries which makes transporting more economical and easier thus improving animal welfare. This allows buyers the opportunity to feed cattle to heavier weights using local resources. Both sexes can be represented.

    Slaughter cattle are generally above 350kg to a maximum of 650kg. Both sexes can be represented.

    The Beef Stocktake Report produced for the current Western Australian government by Warwick Yates and Associates in 2009 details specifications of livestock suitable for the trade in Western Australia and the benefits of live export to it.

    http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/content/aap/bc/beef_cattle_executive_summary_issues_paper.pdf

    Our business chooses to supply feeder cattle to the live export industry because it is an efficient use of our natural rangeland resources.

  5. Australia has the world’s best practise electronic livestock identification system (NLIS) that has been operable since 2005. The mandatory use of NLIS provides a secure and rapid method of tracking any animal born in Australia, traded domestically or exported from this country. This technology is a reliable method of tracking animals in importing countries up to the point of slaughter.

    OIE member countries would be able to administer the protocols for correct reporting and adequate training of staff.

  6. ASEL has the required risk management strategies necessary up to the point of disembarkation where Australia’s jurisdiction ceases. It has recommendations for post disembarkation in sovereign nations. Please refer to page 10 of ASEL v2.3 of April 2011.

    http://www.daff.gov.au/_data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1904365/australian-standards- v2.3.pdf

  7. The Australian Live Export Corporation (Livecorp) has a strategic plan drafted in August 2010. Strategy 3.2.1 particularly relates to animal welfare.

    http://www.livecorp.com.au/Public%20Files/News/Final%20LiveCorp%20Strategic%20Plan%202011%20-%202014%20v27%20clean.pdf

    The Centre for International Economies reported to Livecorp and MLA in June 2011 updating the report by Hassall and Associates of 2006 on the contribution of the live export industry to Australia. As a producer of cattle for the live export industry I find this report is extremely accurate and I agree with its contents.

    http://www.livecorp.com.au/R_D/The%20Contribution%20of%20the20Aus%20live%20export%20Ind%20June%202011.pdf

    Extracts from Hansard of the West Australian State Parliament supporting the live export industry are attached as PDFs.

Our business has been supplying cattle to live export markets for over 30 years. We have witnessed an ever increasing improvement in standards of welfare, facilities, land transport, shipping, regulation and accountability. These continue to improve as education and new technology is introduced to the industry. Australia has the highest standards of any nation exporting livestock in the world.

We have seen the events of the past six weeks created by a minority of people who have not upheld these high standards of animal welfare, facilities and accountability. This review and the subsequent recommendations from it will reinforce our high standards and help to ensurwthat others conform to these standards in order t6 protect the future of the live export industry.

Thank you for the opportunity to review the terms of reference.

Yours faithfiully

Grant Brooks

(WA)

Feeder Cattle To Turkey - Vendor Declaration

I, ......................................................................(Print Name), the owner (or owner’s representative) of the cattle listed below and presented for export to Turkey, declare that:

  1. The cattle have resided continuously on the property for the previous three (3) months
    (delete if incorrect and provide ‘Previous Owner’ details below)
  2. To the best of my knowledge, no diseases have been diagnosed on the property during the last five years that may make these cattle ineligible for export. I give permission for the relevant State Department of Agriculture/Primary Industries to disclose herd disease information to a third party, L.S.S. or A.I.S., in relation to the export of feeder cattle to Turkey.
  3. The herd of origin is free from Johne’s disease of the previous 5 years, and is clinically free from
    Enzootic Bovine Leukosis (EBL) and bovine pasteurellosis for the previous 24 months, and
    Trichmoniasis, Vibriofetus, Leptospirosis, Bovine Herpes Virus Type I (BHV1), Bovine Viral Diarrhoea/Mucosal Disease (BVP/MD), Neospirosis and Parainfluenza-3 (P1-3) for the previous 12 months
  4. The property of origin is not subject to official quarantine restrictions on animal health grounds for anthrax, paratuberculosis (Johne’s), enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) or any other notifiable disease of cattle, and has had no clinical cases of infectious bovine rhinotraceitis (IBR/IPV), BVD/MD, P1-3, epizootic haemorrhagic disease or leptospirosis during the previous 12 months.
  5. The property of origin is in a Bluetongue free area, with no clinical cases/outbreaks occurring within a 150km radius, nor any clinical cases/outbreak of bovine brucellosis or bovine tuberculosis occurring within a 101cm radius during the previous 60 days
  6. The cattle have not received any stilbene or thyrostatic substances, nor received oestrogenic, androgenic, gestagenic or â-agonist substances for purposes other than therapeutic or zootechnic treatment.
  7. The herd of origin is free from bovine brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis, and during the last 12 months, the cattle have not been vaccinated against bovine brucellosis. bovine tuberculosis, bluetongue or epizootic haemorrhagic disease
  8. The cattle were kept isolated from all other animals on the farm of origin for at least 20 days immediately prior to transportation to the registered premises.
  9. The cattle were born after 1 Jan 1998 and have been raised in Australia
    since birth.

If you have deleted Number 1 above please supply the origin of the cattle as a declaration is needed from each previous owner during the past six (6) months prior to export for Property clearance for export.

Trading Name

Address

Phone/Fax

If you believe that there may be a problem please consult your stock agent for advice. Failure to advise may incur extra costs in returning the cattle to you as they will he rejected from the consignment
Signature ____________________________ Date ______________________
Name __________________________________________________________
Please Note: You are advised that this document is to be presented to a Commonwealth Officer for the purposes of the Export Control Act 1982. False or misleading statements in this document may render you liable for prosecution under Commonwealth Law - the Export Control Act 1982, the Crimes Act 1914 or other appropriate legislation.