The NorthernTerritory Buffalo Industry has marked its emergence as an up-and-comingeconomic powerhouse by launching a new Code of Practice today.
Prepared by the Northern Territory Buffalo IndustryCouncil, the practical Code of Practice handbook covers weed management, bushfire management, animal welfare andbiosecurity.
The code forms part of the NT buffalo industrysself-regulation process and promotes public safety, industry productivity andefficiency and encourages innovative, safe and collaborative businesspractices.
Live buffalo is an emerging export market for the Territoryand has been showing strong growth in recent years, including:
10,254buffalo exported through Darwin Port in 2017-18, a 24 per cent increase on theprevious financial year and the highest result on record.
2017saw the highest yearly volume of buffalo exported through Darwin Port since theDepartment of Primary Industry and Resources began recording buffalo exportstatistics in 1990.
9,916buffalo were exported in 2017 4,406 to Malaysia, 4,008 to Vietnam, 1,229 toIndonesia, 148 to Brunei and 125 to Sabah.
2018also saw high exports of buffalo with 8,673 exported through Darwin Port.
Buffalo industry stakeholders will voluntarily signup to the code, which is a good step in getting the buffalo industry to takeresponsibility for the conduct of all parts of the supply chain.
The Code of Practice is available to download fromthe NT Buffalo Industry Council: www.ntbuffalo.com/code-of-practice/.Printed copies are also available from the Buffalo Industry Council.
As noted byMinister for Primary Industry and Resources, Paul Kirby:
The Northern Territory Buffalo Industry isbenefiting from a growing export market, something that will help to strengthenthe Territorys economy and create jobs.
It is estimated there are more than 150,000 wildbuffalo in the Territory and the industrycontributes to the Territory economy through export of animals,processing at local abattoirs, and employment in Indigenous communities.
Byimplementing the Code of Practice all parties in the buffalo supply chain aresignalling their positive intentions to adhere to animal welfare, transport,biosecurity and food safety standards.
As noted by Northern Territory BuffaloIndustry Council President, Angus Fleming:
Animalwelfare is a critical issue for the Northern Territory buffalo industry to beproductive and profitable, and in order to maintain our social licence tooperate.
The code is commercially significant as a form ofindustry self-regulation and is intended to create, and maintain confidence inthe Northern Territorys buffalo industry.
Top End, wild caught buffaloare a world class, clean and green protein source, entirely suitable forfeeding the increasingly affluent middle class in South East Asia.
