Sale yards, abattoirs and live export depots are to be visited by officers from the Department of Agriculture and Food to promote national animal welfare guidelines.

Chief Veterinary Officer with the Department, Tony Higgs said the officers were committed to helping the State’s livestock industries meet the national Fit to Load guidelines.
“Failure to comply with Fit to Load guidelines could expose producers and transporters to risk of prosecution under the Animal Welfare Act 2002,” Dr Higgs said.

“Stock that are visibly weak or diseased, extremely thin, or have unhealed injuries must not be loaded.”
He said owners and transporters must ensure animals can bear weight on all legs, can see and are not in late pregnancy.
Dr Higgs said if there was any doubt about an animal’s fitness for loading, it should be left out.
Chief Executive of the WA Meat Industry Authority, Renata Paliskis said the industry supported the Fit to Load guidelines.
“We encourage all those involved in the stock movement process — owners, agents, transporters and sale yards’ staff — to become familiar with and observe these national guidelines,” Ms Paliskis said.
The Department has produced a new publication, Transporting Livestock: When are Animals Fit to Load? to help owners and transporters assess whether stock meet the guidelines.
The publication was available from www.agric.wa.gov.au

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