Proper preparation of livestock is essential for minimising stress and injury during transport. Cooperation and communication between everyone involved in the transport of livestock will:

• maximise animal welfare while livestock are in transit
• make sure livestock arrive at their destination in the best possible condition.

The responsibility for the welfare of livestock is shared among everyone involved in transport, including the consignor, transporter and receiver, and all must comply with the code of practice for transport of livestock.

Key responsibilities

The consignor is responsible for:

• mustering and assembling livestock
• handling
• preparing livestock, including selection as 'fit for the intended journey'
• providing feed and water
• using holding periods before loading.

The transporter is responsible for:

• loading
• ensuring appropriate loading density (excluding poultry)
• performing the final inspection as 'fit for the intended journey' during loading
• monitoring the journey
• performing additional inspections of livestock during the journey
• providing spelling periods during the journey
• unloading.

The receiver is responsible for:

• providing care after unloading.

Animal selection

Pre-transport preparation and selection is essential for successfully transporting livestock.

Livestock require time to settle down after mustering and handling in the yard. Animals should be well rested and hydrated prior to transport, particularly those intended for long distance transport.

Fit for the intended journey

Livestock that are not 'fit for the intended journey' must not be presented or loaded for transport, and instead withdrawn from transport and provided with appropriate treatment.

To determine fitness for a journey, consider each animal's:

• ability to walk bearing weight on all legs
• age
• pregnancy status
• body condition
• stress levels or injury status
• ability to see.

Feed and water

The maximum time livestock can be kept from water and feed varies with species, age and reproductive status. When livestock have reached their maximum time off water, they must be spelled before continuing the journey.

Any livestock intended for journeys longer than 24 hours must have accompanying records that show when they had access to water during transport.

If there is a mixed load of animals (including various age groups or species), the maximum time off water is determined by the animal that needs access to water soonest.

Spelling

Spelling, providing food, water and rest, is vital to ensure livestock are fit to continue the journey. The code of practice for livestock transport outlines the minimum spell periods that livestock must receive before continuing a journey. The spell period begins when the livestock are unloaded and ends when they are handled for reloading.

Handling

The stock handler's attitude and actions can determine if transport of animals is successful. Livestock travel better when they are quiet, and segregated by size, gender and horn status.

Correct livestock handling reduces bruising and stress. Skilled stock handlers who work livestock without noise and bustle reduce animal stress.

Livestock must be handled in a way that minimises stress throughout the transport process.

Loading densities

Appropriate loading densities depend on the age, size and reproductive status of the livestock, as well as weather conditions and the distance to be travelled. Loading densities must be assessed for each crate or container to ensure the animals give each other mutual support.

Appropriate loading densities reduce stress, bruising and deaths during the journey. Overloading increases the risk of an animal going down and being unable to get up again. Downer animals (unable to stand) significantly increase the risk of bruising, injury and mortality.

Also consider...

• Read the national guidelines for selecting livestock for transport (PDF, 1.9MB).
• Read about livestock transportation.
• Learn more about transporting drought-affected livestock.
• Find out about legal requirements when transporting animals.
• Read about moving cattle and buffalo.

Everyone involved in the transport of livestock must also comply with the compulsory code of practice for transport of livestock.

Guidelines for feeding

Cattle spelled in saleyards, spelling centres or transit centres should be fed at the travelling cattle rate for each 24 hours they are at the facility.

To do this, feed cattle:

• that arrive before 12 noon on the day before a sale (except where they have travelled short distances and have had no prior curfew)
• to be held for at least 24 hours after completion of the sale of the last pen - do not start feeding until the entire consignment has been delivered to the purchaser's pen to ensure all cattle have equal access to appropriate feed
• that are held for 48 hours or more after the sale in a manner agreed to by the owner of the cattle and the saleyard operator or contractor; however, the overall feeding rate should reflect the daily travelling cattle rate requirements
• in transit centres where spelling is required in line with the maximum travel times outlined in the land transport code.

Feeding rates

Usually, a ration of approximately 1.5-2% of body weight of reasonable quality hay (approximately 8% crude protein) provides a maintenance ration.

The travelling cattle rate (outlined below) does not provide a maintenance ration; it provides sufficient feed to deliver the animal safely to its proposed destination without compromising its welfare and ensuring its rumen continues to function effectively.

The table below shows the daily minimum feed intake for maintenance and for travelling cattle.

¹ for maintenance (MJ ME/day)

² for maintenance (g/day)

³ based on a diet of 8% protein and 7MJ ME/kg

⁴ required daily feed intake for travelling cattle

The table below shows the number of bales required to feed travelling cattle by liveweight and type of hay.

Hay bale variations and feeding

• As bale weights vary significantly, weigh a sample of the hay bales to calculate an accurate feeding rate.
• Ensure the hay is palatable to the stock and of a reasonable quality (e.g. at least 8% crude protein). If the hay is of a lesser quality, adjust feeding rates accordingly. Poor-quality hay is usually not palatable, has little nutritional value and is unlikely to meet the feeding program's aims.
• Strongly consider feeding cattle in racks or bunks to limit the potential risk of chemical residues, parasite infestation, hay wastage and fouling of yards.

The above recommendations refer to cattle in strong body condition. Weakened, lactating or stressed animals may require additional feed to help cope with the added stress of transport. Feeding levels for this class of animal must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

These recommendations refer only to the short-term spelling of cattle. If you hold cattle for extended periods, you must feed them a maintenance ration.

Also consider...

• Learn about livestock standstills.
• Read about moving cattle and buffalo.
• Find out about legal requirements when transporting animals.

Anyone involved in transporting livestock must comply with driver fatigue and animal welfare laws. Under driver fatigue reforms for heavy vehicles, everyone involved in transporting livestock (consignees, consignors and receivers)—not just the driver—must be accountable for breaches of fatigue laws under the 'chain-of-responsibility' legislation.

All parties involved along the supply chain must understand their responsibility and take reasonable steps to manage fatigue. Learn more about chain-of-responsibility legislation.

Find out about animal welfare codes of practice for more information on the livestock transport welfare standards.

Also consider...

• Read about the land transport of livestock code.
• Learn more about driver fatigue and heavy vehicles.
• Read about heavy vehicle rest areas and the location of heavy vehicle rest areas in Queensland.