Preparing livestock for transport

Producers and people involved in preparing livestock for transport should ensure the livestock are ready for the trip and be satisfied that the trip is planned to minimise the cumulative effects of stress on the animals.

Preparation and planning prior to transporting stock include:

• ensure animals are fit to load
• use low stress handling techniques prior to transport
• avoid extreme weather conditions
• ensure animals are segregated appropriately for transport
• ensure the correct times for withholding feed and water are followed for that age and status of the livestock
• record times off feed and water
• ensure livestock are spelled when required for the correct times
• ensure yards and loading ramps are adequate
• ensure the correct livestock density is followed
• ensure all animals are tagged and that the correct paperwork is completed and signed.

Also see our Responsibilities and fit to load page.

Planning your trip

The driver or transporter of livestock is responsible from the point of loading livestock to unloading and notifying the receiver of the livestock destination.

Livestock on the vehicle should not be loaded either too loosely or too tightly because this may increase injury.

The truck should have sufficient airflow with suitable flooring to minimise injury including slipping or falling and have no protruding objects.

If you transport your own livestock, check your livestock prior to departure and regular checks on longer journeys.  Take appropriate action if a problem arises that could affect the welfare of the livestock.

• Plan your journey and take into consideration the condition, species and class of the livestock, nature of the journey and weather conditions.
• Drive in a manner that minimises impact on the welfare of the livestock, including appropriate driving techniques for the road conditions.
• Plan your rest stops and spells
• Know the time that livestock are deprived of feed and water.
• Ensure effective cleaning of livestock crates and containers.
• Ensure vehicle gates and facilities are sufficiently wide to ensure easy movement.

Maximum time off water and spelling period

Each class of animal has a maximum permitted time off water and minimum spelling period. This includes time spent mustering and holding before loading, travelling and rest stops, and unloading until water is provided.

The maxiumum transport time for all livestock in the last 2 weeks of gestation is 4 hours.

Transporting flood-affected stock

Transporting flood affected stock does require a few extra preparatory steps.

These steps may delay the trip for a day or two but will mean that stock have the best chance of arriving upright and in good health. Do not load stock that are unlikely to make it to their destination without going down during transport.

The primary need stock will have is adequate energy from a couple of days consumption of good quality feed before transport. Additional feed provision may be required or the journey amended so that it is shorter or with more breaks.

Pregnant or lactating stock, off feed, are at a particular risk of going down in the truck, or in the days after arrival, not only due to low energy stores but depleted calcium and magnesium levels.

Tips for transporting flood affected stock

• Feed fodder off the ground (feeder rings are useful) to minimise mud contamination of the feed which can harbour scour causing bacteria and move the feeder to a new position each day.
• Flood affected fodder is not suitable feed as it will have spoiled through moisture, heat, bacterial and fungal contamination and deteriorated energy content.
• Consider offering lactating breeders a calcium/magnesium lick and salt prior to transport.
• If sending stock to saleyards please liaise with your agent and ensure they have feed in the yards overnight and again the next day if there is a delay in departure after the sale or a long trip is intended.
• Enact the receival farm’s biosecurity plan for quarantine of new stock.
• Deworming should be considered as the stress of flooding can reduce immunity and resilience to worm burdens. However, relaxing the standard Biosecurity protocol of 5 in 1 clostridial disease vaccination on arrival might be in order. If stock are stressed/weakened, they might respond poorly to vaccination and shouldn’t be put through further husbandry practices until they have settled in and been strengthened by a few days' food.