Animal Welfare Policy © Australia 2020 SHEARQUANTITY.COM All rights reserved.
Table of Content
1. Introduction
2. Purpose/Objective
3. Application/Scope
4. Principles of Sheep Welfare
5. Health and Safety Risks in Shearing
6. Managing the Risks
7. Guidelines to Follow
8. Preparing Sheep
9. Information, Education, and training
10. The Legal Responsibilities of Persons Involved in Shearing
11. Implementation and Review
1. Introduction
The development of the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Sheep (Sheep S&G) was an important initiative
of all governments and sheep industries to guide the development of new, nationally consistent standards to enhance animal
welfare arrangements in all Australian states and territories.
The development process for the Sheep S&G was funded and supported by all Governments, Sheep Producers Australia and
Wool Producers Australia.
Based on current scientific knowledge, community expectations, and recommended industry practice, the standards offer a basis
for developing, implementing and enforcing consistent legislation across Australia, and provide guidance for all people, who are
responsible for sheep. Agreed by industry and governments, the development of these standards is part of a comprehensive
program that aims to develop standards and guidelines for all commercial livestock species and at all points along the production
supply chain.
The standard and guidelines replace the following Model Code of Practice:
● Model Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - The Sheep, PISC/SCARM Report Series 89, CSIRO Publishing,
1991 (revised 2006)
The preparation of these standards represents a significant investment by all parties, along with the members of the writing and
reference groups. Animal Health Australia gratefully acknowledges their efforts.
2. Purpose/Objective
The purpose of the Sheep S&G is to offer contemporary standards and guidelines for the welfare of sheep in Australia. Moreover,
it informs all those with responsibilities for the care and management of sheep. The standards offer the basis for developing and
implementing consistent legislation and enforcement across Australia, and direction for people, who look after sheep.
In May 2009, primary industries ministers took the position that guidelines, irrespective of their purpose in existing codes and the
new standards and guidelines documents, will not be regulated. In particular, an agreement was reached that:
All future revisions of Model Codes and ‘Australian Standards and Guidelines’ document must offer a number of:
● clear essential requirements (‘standards’) for animal welfare, which can be verified and are transferable into legislation
for effective regulation, and
● guidelines, to be produced concurrently with the standards but not enforced in legislation, to be considered by the
industry for incorporation into national industry QA along with the standards.
The policy has been prepared as a part of a series of welfare standards and guidelines for a particular species – in this case, it is
sheep.
The aim of the Sheep S&G is to:
● Specify the legal standards of management, as well as husbandry required to protect and maintain the welfare of sheep
in Australia.
● Offer recommended guidelines for livestock producers, managers, owners, contractors, and stock persons, to
complement the standards and to assist them to minimise the risks associated with the welfare of sheep in all types of
sheep and related enterprises.
3. Application/Scope
The standards and guidelines are applicable to all sheep farming enterprises in Australia – from extensive grazing to fully housed
systems. Some provisions such as handling standards will apply in other enterprises if there are not already higher provisions in
place, such as during transport or at abattoirs or saleyards.
The standards are applicable to all those responsible for the care and management of sheep. The guidelines and standards should
be considered in conjunction with other needs of livestock, state and territory legislation, including:
● for farming enterprises – model codes of practice and guidelines for saleyards, livestock species, livestock processing
establishments, and the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock
● for research and teaching purposes – Australian Code for the Care & Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, 8 th
edition, 2013.
● for transport – the Australian Welfare Standards and Guidelines – Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock,
Land Transport of Livestock, livestock health and biosecurity requirements, and the regulated livestock schemes and
driver regulations
Where legislation needs a higher standard than these standards, the higher standard will be applicable. However, when there is a
conflict with another standard meeting the livestock welfare standards, the welfare of livestock will be the first consideration
unless there is a work health and safety requirement.
These Australian standards and guidelines don’t try to describe ‘best practice’ as it is too difficult to reflect the known regional
variation. There are other industries and government documents to better communicate these industry practices, which also
consider regional variations.
4. Principles of Sheep Welfare
Sheep in Australia are managed in environments that vary from broad rangelands to intensively housed systems. As the welfare
of the animals based on the people who are in charge of looking after them, it is important to make sure that those people have
the necessary knowledge, experience, and expertise to meet the requirements of the standards.
Adherence to good animal husbandry principles is crucial to meet the welfare needs of animals. Moreover, good husbandry
principles meet the basic physiological and behavioural requirements of sheep, including but not limited to:
● a level of nutrition sufficient to sustain good health and welfare
● access to sufficient water of a suitable quality that can meet physiological needs
● Social contact with other sheep
● sufficient space to stand, lie, and stretch their limbs
● procedures to minimise the risk of injury, pain or disease
● minimising the risk of predation
● selection and breeding of sheep appropriate for the environment
5. Health and Safety Risks in Shearing
Everyone involved in shearing and associated areas can be at risk of health and safety hazards. Sheep are unpredictable and have
a tendency to charge when they see a chance to escape, particularly when held in pens. The same kinds of accidents or injuries
can occur to the sheep and the workers The most common health and safety issues in shearing include:
● cuts and bruising
● A slippery shearing board makes it harder for shearers to keep control of the sheep and increases the risk of slipping
over causing injuries.
● People can be injured due to slipping, tripping, and falling in sheep pens, gates, and races
● catching and dragging sheep can cause strains, sprains and similar injuries to the back, arms, hands, shoulders, knees,
and other parts of the body
● injuries due to machinery
● heatstroke and heat exhaustion
● injuries and diseases arising from working with sheep, especially when lifting them
● flesh needles increase the risk of transmitting disease from a sheep to another one or to the worker
● Ill-designed or narrow porthole or chute can increase the risk of back injury and place a significant strain on the
shearer, following shearing or crutching. Moreover, sheep are hurt and maimed by poorly designed exists.
6. Managing the Risks
Before the work starts, the employer should meet the employees to discuss health and safety issues and try to resolve the matters.
A properly designed workplace reduces harm to the animals and the staff. The actions that can be taken include:
● The layout of the shed should allow adequate space so that collisions with other workers, plant and machinery are
avoided.
● The shearing board should be in good working condition. Do not ever varnish it. Tongue and groove wood makes a
good floor; it gives good grip.
● Gate hinges, catches, and railings should be in good working condition, and pen gates should be able to swing in and
out. Well maintained sheep pens reduce the harm to livestock.
● Doors, gateways and catching pens should be maintained on a regular basis to improve the functionality. Up-to-date
maintenance program contributes to improving animal welfare.
● Before shearing, negotiations between the owner and the staff can help to determine the method for shearing. It will
allow that adequate support will be available to shearers in the event of a ram struggling free or a sheep becoming free
on the board.
● Flesh needles, combs, and cutters should be washed properly to reduce the chances of transmitting diseases in sheep
and staff
● The sheep should have an unobstructed exit from the shearing board that requires the least effort from the shearers.
Where chutes are used their entrance should be extended onto the floor of the shearing board by some 100–150 mm,
with the front edge 100 mm lower than the floor, for easy release of sheep.
● Staff, who are in shearing, should be given a chance to rest and relax. If the staff are physically and mentally exhausted,
then they would not be able to handle sheep properly and as a result, they would hurt both themselves and the animals.
7. Guidelines to Follow
Animal Welfare Guidelines
There are several policies that are taken by the company for the welfare of the animals, including:
● The staff, who will be in charge of the animal, should make sure that the physical, as well as behavioural needs of the
animal, are met.
● If any animal was injured then the person who is given the responsibility, should make sure that the animal gets the
proper treatment to minimise unnecessary pain or distress.
● According to the Animal Welfare Act 1999, all employees should treat the animals with care and kindness.
● The client should follow the Health & Safety recommendations for the fasting of sheep before shearing
Health & Safety Guidelines
In order to reduce the risk of employee injury , the company has developed some policies, procedures, and training for the
employees. To achieve this, the company has set up a guideline that includes:
● A safe working environment for all personnel need to be maintained
● Reduce the loss of property, materials and equipment, personal injury, ill health, environmental damage, and other
issues
● Identify the improvements that can be made, audit and assess your performance on a regular basis
● Contributions of employees should be encouraged, motivated, acknowledged and rewarded
8. Preparing Sheep
To reduce the risk of injury and to make the most of shearing, staff need to make sure that the sheep is in good order. Sheep that
are full of water and feed don’t handle shearing well. Fasting sheep before shearing benefits both farmers and shearers. Sheep
that have emptied stomach don’t struggle as much and cause fewer back injuries and strains. Moreover, fasting reduces the risk of disease to woolshed workers and pen stains in wool.
However, staff, who are responsible for shearing, need to make sure that no sheep goes without food for longer than the
recommended period. Time off feed includes the time sheep spend mobbed up during mustering when feed intake is minimal. If a
full day’s shearing is mustered the day before, sheep shorn in the day will be off feed 10-12 hours longer than those shorn early
in the morning. Take extra care when handling pregnant sheep.
● Dry sheep: Farmers must make sure sheep are dry for shearing. Shearing damp or wet wool increases the risk of wool abscesses and arthritis.
● Dagged: Dag sheep before shearing
● Drafted: Draft sheep to separate
● Breeds
● Sex
● Ages: lambs, hoggets and adult sheep
● wool lengths: sheep shorn at different times
● Sick sheep, including footrot, ticks, lice and flyblown
● Ram shearing: Before shearing mobs of rams, contractors, farmers and shearing team members need to make sure
there is enough support for the shearer in case help is needed or a ram gets free on the board.
9. Information, Education, and training
Employees can face several hazards while handling sheep. In order to eliminate, isolate, and minimise those hazards, employers
can provide proper information, training, and education to all employees. With this, they will know how to handle sheep safely.
The training program should provide information about:
● sheep handling principles
● manually handling sheep
● mustering
● lifting sheep
● working with sheep in the yards
● working with rams
● transporting sheep
● shearing and crutching
● woolsheds
● sheep behaviour
● sheep inspection
Moreover, employers should encourage their workers to:
● Remain hydrated by drinking plenty of non-caffeinated and non-alcoholic fluids. Water is the ideal option.
● Exercise regularly to maintain strength, fitness, and stamina.
● Look after their health
● Stretch and warm up with gentle exercises before shearing, and cool down afterwards with slow, continuous stretches
● Take regular breaks to alleviate fatigue
● Always get help when lifting heavy loads, or use a hoist
● Always handle sheep in a reasonable manner
● Always consider the welfare of sheep when using an electric prodder
● Always muzzle a dog that habitually bites sheep while the dog is working sheep.
10. The Legal Responsibilities of Persons Involved in Shearing
The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 specifies the legal responsibilities of employers and employees in the area of occupational
health and safety. The act and duties specified apply to all employers and employees involved in shearing and associated
activities, as well as all workplaces where shearing and associated activities are carried out.
Responsibilities of employers & contractors
Employers have a general duty of care to provide and maintain a working environment for employees that is safe and without
risks to health as far as is practicable.
Along with the general duty employers must:
● consult with the employee health and safety representative and discuss all the proposed changes to the workplace, the
plant or substances used at the workplace or the conduct of work at the workplace that may affect the health and safety
of any member of the designed work group
● maintain plant and system of work that is safe and without risks to health
● ensure the use, handlings, storage, and transport of plant and substances are safe and without risks to health
● make sure the workplace is safe and without risks to health
● offer adequate facilities for the welfare of employees
● provide such information, instruction, training, and supervision to employees to enable them to perform their work in a
manner that is safe and without risks to health
The duties of an employer extend to an independent contractor and the independent contractor’s employees.
Responsibilities of employees
An employee must
● take proper care of his own health and safety, as well as the health and safety of anyone else at the workplace
● cooperate with his or her employer with respect to any action taken by the employer to ensure the health and safety
● not interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health safety or welfare
● not place at risk the health or safety of any person at the workplace
11. Implementation and Review
[Your Company Name]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- will review and make changes to this policy and procedures as needed at a regular interval.
Date:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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