SHEEP producers, agents and buyers focussed on the preparation of stock for live export at a recent field day in Western Australia.
About 80 specialist live trade producers, agents and buyers attended the Meat & Livestock Australia/LiveCorp Livestock Export Program event at Wellard’s La Bergerie pre-export quarantine facility at Baldivus, south of Perth.
The LEP is a joint MLA/LiveCorp program is a platform for livestock exporters and producers to invest in research, development and extension and in-market technical support to service Australia’s livestock export industry. Exporters represented at the field day included Wellard Rural Exports, Emanuel Exports, Harmony Agriculture and Livestock Shipping Services.
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LiveCorp chief executive officer Sam Brown said the LEP program session took producers through the commercial and regulatory benefits of supplying optimal livestock for export.
“The session bridged the gap between theoretical research and commercial on-farm decisions to help producers to align and refresh their knowledge of the critical points at each stage of the supply chain to ensure the health, welfare and productivity of animals.
“Health protocols and associated market access issues were also a key focus,” he said.
“What you do on-farm to prepare animals and how you manage the livestock destined for export has very real impacts on the performance of those animals during export and in-market.”
MLA’s Allister Lugsdin provided a market overview and the field day panel included Chris Medcalf from LSS, Michael Curnick from Emanuel Exports, Holly Ludeman from Harmony Agriculture and Paul Gault from Wellard Rural Exports.
“The level of engagement and buy-in from producers at the field day was what every RDC hopes to achieve when communicating with its stakeholders and we look forward to building on these discussions at LIVEXchange 2017,” Mr Brown said.
The LEP field day kicked off a busy period for the WA livestock export industry over the coming months, with LiveCorp’s next Shipboard Stockperson Accreditation Course to be held in Fremantle from September 26-29 2017, and LIVEXchange, the biennial conference for the Australian livestock export industry, to be held in Perth from 15-16 November 2017.
The LiveCorp Shipboard Stockperson Accreditation Course produces provisionally accredited stockpersons to work in the livestock export trade in accordance with the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL). The course, which will be held in Fremantle from 26-29 September 2017, will cover all aspects of on-board care and management of livestock, including the treatment and prevention of shipboard diseases and feed, water and deck management.
Mr Brown said the LiveCorp Shipboard Stockperson Accreditation Course is part of the accreditation program for people responsible for the care of livestock exported by sea in accordance with the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL). The four-day training course covers all aspects of on-board care and management of livestock, including the treatment and prevention of shipboard diseases and feed, water and deck management.
LIVEXchange is the biennial conference for the Australian livestock export industry and will be held in Perth, Western Australia from November 15-16 2017. The theme of LIVEXchange 2017 is “Taking stock: (business) adaptability, (industry) sustainability and (community) accountability”.
Mr Brown said the conference theme captures the breadth of issues that warrant reflection and consideration of wider experiences to help inform future industry directions.
“This is particularly important as the industry continues to evolve and strives to achieve sustainability and profitability, whilst navigating domestic regulatory issues, international trade and the challenges of maintaining a social licence.
“The Conference aims to showcase the livestock export sector as a professional and highly modernised industry which is delivering jobs, prosperity and growth to regional Australia, with a strong future based on a reputation of reliability, consistent quality, and a firm focus on animal welfare,” he said.
A key feature of LIVEXchange 2017 will be the Producer Briefing Forum, where previously raised questions from producers will be answered. A panel discussion with shipboard stock people and Australian Accredited Veterinarians will address key issues regarding livestock performance during transport.
Other topics to be discussed at the conference include international competition and markets, changing consumer patterns, community expectations and technology.
More details on Further information on LIVEXchange 2017 are available on www.livexchangeconference.com.au
Details about the stockpersons course are at http://www.livecorp.com.au/programs/stockperson-s-accreditation-course
Source: Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council.
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