In Australia, livestock often travel many kilometres, in some cases even thousands of kilometres interstate for processing.
This long-distance travel often occurs where producers have long standing contracts that need to be fulfilled or species specific or specialised requirements that can only be met at a particular abattoir.
Agriculture Victoria District Veterinary Officer Cathy Bunter said where transport journeys are projected to be long it is important to have animals well prepared for the journey in terms of their nutrition, hydration and heat management.
'It is also essential for producers to introduce their livestock to water troughs prior so their animals can recognise and be able to drink from troughs both during and at the end of the journey,' Dr Bunter said.
'Shorter transport journeys for livestock have many benefits apart from the obvious lower transport costs.'
Dr Bunter said shorter transport distances reduce the risks of injury, disease and death. There is a substantial increase in livestock welfare incidents in stock travelling greater than 400km or undergoing journeys longer than 30 hours.
'Producers and transporters are reminded the Land Transport Standards are nationally agreed mandatory animal welfare standards and guidelines developed cooperatively by the livestock industries and government.'
Anyone who is preparing livestock for transport or transporting livestock must follow these standards which can be found at Land Transport – Australian Animal Welfare
Dr Bunter said other motivations for shorter transport distances include better meat quality, because less stress means the meat is tenderer and consumer satisfaction is increased. The producer also benefits from heavier carcass results.
'Regardless of the distance travelled, having animals better prepared to take the journey results in better animal welfare outcomes. This is especially important where livestock are still recovering from the prolonged impacts of drought.'
