How OIE animal welfare standards are implemented in the feedlot industry Enriched Seminar for OIE National Focal Points on Animal Welfare

Transcription

1 How OIE animal welfare standards are implemented in the feedlot industry Enriched Seminar for OIE National Focal Points on Animal Welfare Tess Herbert ALFA Vice President, Chair - Animal Health & Welfare Committee

2 Locations of Gundamain and Ladysmith Feedlots

3 LADYSMITH AND GUNDAMAIN FEEDLOTS

4 Australian Lot Feeders Association The peak national organisation that represents and promotes the interests of the cattle feedlot industry in Australia. Funded mainly by direct membership, sponsorship (incl. corporate members) and events. Key roles include: Represent grain fed beef producers in policy development and advocacy Allocate and oversee the expenditure of grain fed cattle transaction levies (R, D & E, marketing, industry integrity programs) Industry development and membership services incl. education and training, events, extension, issues management, careers/ leadership development and progression of industry systems (e.g. NFAS, LPA, NVD s, CVD s etc) Promoting and protecting the reputation of the Australian cattle feedlot industry.

5 The Australian cattle feedlot industry Valued at $2.7 billion whilst employing 9,000 people. Comprises approx 400 accredited feedlots with capacities ranging from 10 head to over 50,000 head (total capacity 1.1 million head). 55% of feedlot capacity is in Qld, 30% in NSW with the remainder split between Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia. Largest 20% of feedlots contribute 80% of total industry capacity. Has only 2-3% of total cattle numbers at any one time but contributes 30-40% of total beef production and 80% of beef supplied to domestic retailers. Is diverse. Includes small family owned operators (96%), large multinational corporates, singularly focussed lot feeders; and operators who are vertically integrated across grain/ grass fed cattle production and/ or beef processing.

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7 The Australian cattle feedlot industry A mature and professional industry Focused on the production of high quality beef underpinned by a quality systems approach National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme the first quality assurance scheme in livestock production in Australia, in place since 1994

8 Feedlot cattle management Feedlot cattle spend between 85-90% of their lives in an extensive pasture environment. Average time spent on a feedlot is between days. Trained and competent staff work with cattle. All cattle are monitored daily to check for injury and disease. Feedlots utilise low stress handling practices and well maintained and designed facilities. Consultant veterinarians oversee feedlot animal health programs. Animal nutritionists formulate the appropriate mix of energy, protein, fibre, minerals and vitamins.

9 National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme NFAS is the key platform for the feedlot sector to demonstrate the robustness, integrity and credibility of its systems to external stakeholders. NFAS is also the key platform to deliver continual industry improvement on matters such as animal welfare, environment and food quality and safety.

10 Our animal welfare priorities Managing Excessive Heat Load (minimising the risk of heat stress) Hospital pen management incl. appropriate and timely treatment of illness or injury and/or humane destruction Management of pregnant cattle and calves Good stockmanship Yard maintenance and cleaning Transport facilities and arrangements Natural disaster preparedness and contingency planning Pre-conditioning and induction to minimise stress on entry to the feedlot

11 Addressing animal welfare Assurance and Accreditation Working with Government to develop and implement mandated animal welfare standards to ensure good animal welfare outcomes Research, Development and Extension (Change management) Investing in improved understanding of key risks and demonstrable improvements in animal husbandry practices on feedlots Communication and Engagement Ensuring increased awareness of the high standards of animal welfare in the industry by consumers and the public

12 Freedom to express natural behaviours

13 Animal welfare legislation and regulations Under NFAS, feedlots must adhere to relevant regulations and legislation in animal welfare currently the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals Cattle Once endorsed, the Standards will be recognised by NFAS and feedlots will be expected to adhere to the Australian Animal Welfare Standards for Cattle The Standards are consistent with the OIE Animal Welfare Standards Beef Cattle NFAS contains requirements that are already more stringent than the Australian Animal Welfare Standards

14 Research, Development and Extension Examples of the Animal Welfare related R, D & E investment for 2014/15 include projects to address: Pre-conditioning and induction protocol to reduce stress and improve animal health outcomes Heat load management and improved weather forecasting to minimise risk of heat stress Industry wide formally accredited animal welfare training Extension material to improve time taken to make decisions on sick animal management and appropriate humane destruction methods

15 Managing heat stress

16 Feedlot maintenance

17 Feedlot maintenance Don Mackay, President ALFA

18 Shade

19 Shade

20 Bedding material in pens

21 Summary Animal welfare is: a priority investment for the feedlot industry part of the culture for feedlot managers & staff a key element of feedlot QA (NFAS) a work in progress

22 Don Mackay, President ALFA

23 For further information Don Mackay, President ALFA