[Your Company Name]

Animal Welfare Policy 

 

Introduction  

The Animal Welfare Policy in Australia is a joint initiative taken by governments, community, and the industry to guide the development of new and nationally consistent policies that will help to improve animal welfare arrangements in all Australian states and territories. The development process for the Australian Welfare Standards & Guidelines for Sheep is funded and supported by all Governments and sheep industries.  

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 a guideline to 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.  The Animal Health Australia gratefully acknowledges their efforts.  

Purpose/Objective  

The purpose of this policy 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: 

  1. clear essential requirements (‘standards’) for animal welfare, which can be verified and are transferrable into legislation for effective regulation, and  

  1. 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 policy 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.  

Application/Scope 

The standards and guidelines are applicable to all sheep farming enterprises in Australia – from extensive grazing to fully houses 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, 8th 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.  

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: 

  • 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  

Health and Safety Risks in Shearing  

Everyone involved in shearing and associated areas can face 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 because of the same problem that affects the workers also affects the sheep. The 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.  

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. Properly designed workplace reduces harm to animals and staff. The actions that can be taken include: 

  1. The layout of the shed should allow adequate space so that collisions with other workers, plant and machinery are avoided.  

  1. 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. 

  1. 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.  

  1. 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.   

  1. Before shearing, negotiations between the owner and the staff can help to determine the method for sharing. It will allow that adequate support will be available to shearers in the event of a ram struggling free or becoming free on the board.   

  1. Flesh needles, combs, and cutter should be washed properly to reduce the chances of transmitting diseases in sheep and staff  

  1. 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.  

  1. 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 both hurt them and the animals.  

Guidelines to Follow  

Animal Welfare Guidelines  

There are several policies that are taken by the company for the welfare of the animals, including: 

  1. 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. 

  1. If any animal got injured then the person who is given the responsibility, should make sure that the animal gets the proper treatment to get rid of the unnecessary pain or distress.  

  1. According to the Animal Welfare Act 1999, all employees should treat the animals with care and kindness.  

  1. The client should follow the Health & Safety recommendations for the fasting of sheep before shearing   

Health & Safety Guidelines 

In order to make sure that no employee is injured or harmed while working, the company has developed some policies, procedures, and training for the employees. To achieve this mission, the company has set up a guideline that includes: 

  1. A safe working environment for all personnel need to be maintained  

  1. Reduce the loss of property, materials and equipment, personal injury, ill health, environmental damage, and other issues 

  1. Identify the improvements that can be made, audit  and assess your performance on a regular basis  

  1. Contributions of employees should be encouraged, motivated, acknowledged and rewarded 

 

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. Fasting sheep before shearing benefits both farmers and shearers. Sheep that have emptied stomach don’t struggle 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.  

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 

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 figure  

  • Always get help when lifting heavy loads, or use a hoist  

 

The Legal Responsibilities of Persons Involved in Shearing  

The Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985 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  

 

Implementation and Review 

[Your Company Name] will review and make changes to this policy and procedures as needed at a regular interval.  

Date: