Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
The go-to guide on livestock care
Strict adherence to the LWCC codes of practice will benefit all of those involved in the handling of livestock.
A ll livestock owners and handlers of animals should acquaint themselves with the code of practice for the handling and transport of animals published by the Livestock Welfare Coordinating Committee (LWCC).
Here are a number of key points from the code:
general
Ensure that your animals are always handled with patience that due allowance is given for natural behaviour. For example, livestock respond better to being driven when the drover stands behind the animal, but within its field of vision.
transport
• All livestock to be transported must be provided with sufficient food and fresh water up to commencement of the journey. • Loading must be carried out in a quiet, calm way, and the journey should begin as soon as possible after the livestock have been loaded. • Transport the animals in a vehicle with a non-slip floor that allows draining. They should have adequate ventilation, protection from exhaust gases and protection from direct sun. An emergency supply of water must be available.
In addition, there should be enough room for inspection, and the vehicle should have sufficient sidewalls, adequate loading openings and well-secured gates.
• The driver should have knowledge of the natural behaviour of the animals and the appropriate handling methods. He or she must handle the vehicle in such a way that the animals do not slip, fall or get injured. • The animals must be offloaded promptly and calmly on arrival at the destination.
At sale yards
The LWCC has also published a code of practice for the handling of livestock at sale yards and permanent and semipermanent vending sites.
The aim is to ensure that every person involved in the sale yard industry handles the animals responsibly and humanely at all times.
In addition, the code provides reasonable operating norms for producers, handlers, ‘wet paint speculators’, transport contractors and others to prevent cruelty and financial loss associated with severe injuries and deaths.
The code is guided by sections 1 and 2 of the Animals Protection Act (No. 71 of 1962).
Section 1 outlines all offences in respect of animals. It is an offence to overload, ill-treat, neglect, maim or terrify any animal. Animals may not be confined in such a way as to cause unnecessary suffering, thirst or hunger. It is an offence to deny animals veterinary treatment when necessary. The same applies when an owner fails to destroy an animal when it is seriously injured or diseased, or abandons an animal in circumstances likely to cause it unnecessary suffering.
The LWCC code of practice provides clear guidelines on feeding and watering of animals when kept at sale yards and vending sites. For example, fresh potable water must be available at all times. Animals standing longer than 24 hours should be provided with fodder, while calves should be fed milk every 12 hours.
In addition:
• It is the responsibility of the owner or person in charge to ensure animals are loaded and offloaded in a humane manner. • Facilities for the restraining of fractious animals should be available at all sale yards. • Identification and markings must be done without causing undue distress to the animals. • No tail docking, castration or chipping of teeth may take place at sale yards or vending sites, and no animals may be slaughtered, except for humane reasons.
• To read the full codes of practice, visit lwcc.org.za.
• Contact the RPO at
012 349 1102/1103 or rpo@lantic.net.