Agriculture Victoria senior veterinarian Paul Beltz with the new signs at the Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange.

NEW ‘fit for transport’ signs will soon be displayed at all Victorian saleyards and livestock scales.

The animal welfare signage will remind producers, agents and transporters that all livestock consigned to saleyards, abattoirs and scales must be ‘fit for transport’.

Agriculture Victoria has developed the signs to remind all parties across the livestock supply chain about their obligations when transporting livestock.

Agriculture Victoria livestock welfare compliance program manager Dr Rachael Holmes said the signs served as an important reminder to livestock producers, agents and transporters.

“Livestock must be inspected prior to being loaded and they must not be suffering from conditions that could cause, or would be likely to cause, increased pain or distress during transport.

“Any person in charge of an animal, which may include producers, farm workers, transporters and livestock agents, must not allow any animal to be loaded that is not fit for the journey ahead,” Dr Holmes said.

“It is the responsibility of each person in charge of the animal at each step of the supply chain, to make that assessment, and to make appropriate arrangements for the care, treatment or humane destruction of any animals that are deemed to be unfit for transportation.”

The new animal welfare signs will be displayed in public locations at sheep and cattle saleyards and at livestock scales across the state, aim to further promote best practice in animal welfare across the livestock industry.

For further information on animal welfare contact your local Animal Health staff at Agriculture Victoria or contact the Customer Call Centre on 136 186.