Livestock Production Assurance accreditation: Clearer picture of animal treatment

LIVESTOCK producers have a new set of obligations that can’t be ignored, writes JAMIE-LEE OLDFIELD.

ON-FARM  biosecurity and animal welfare are now integrated into the Livestock Production Assurance accreditation.

With the LPA having come into effect on October 1, producers will also now need to undertake an online assessment and pay a $66 fee for the accreditation every three years.

As of January 1 next year the new requirements will be assessed during LPA audits, with sanctions being applied as next July.

Since the updates were introduced, 3816 producers have renewed voluntarily, and an additional 624 who have become accredited for the first time.

Meat and Livestock Australia’s Integrity Systems Company chief executive Jane Weatherley said for most, little would change.

“The current version of the National Vendor Declaration remains the same, and while producers are encouraged to ensure they fully understand the changes by completing the online learning now, the need to do the assessment and renew accreditation is not immediate,” she said.

Source: Livestock Biosecurity Network.

“We are keen to ensure producers are guided through this process. From January, LPA auditors will assess the new requirements; however producers will have a further six months to ensure they have fully incorporated all necessary practices into their on-farm management before auditors will formally register noncompliance.”

Sheepmeat Council of Australia president Jeff Murray said the new animal welfare and on-farm biosecurity practices were already “the everyday for the vast majority of producers”.

“While this is a significant strengthening of the program, the process for producers is not onerous,” he said.

Victorian Farmers Federation livestock project officer Kimberley Henman said the best starting point was downloading a farm biosecurity template from Animal Health Australia.

“It is important to be honest when filling out the template. This gives you the opportunity to see where improvements can be made around your property in future.

“Once you’ve completed the template, it does not need to be lodged or submitted. It can be requested by buyers or during an LPA audit.”

Animal Health Australia’s Cattle and Sheep Health Declaration are part of the new on-farm biosecurity rules, as well as the latest Johnes disease program, J-BAS.

Livestock Biosecurity Network’s Biosecurity and extension manager Rachel O’Brien said the Cattle Health Declaration was a document that allowed producers to make an assessment of cattle they might be purchasing and the biosecurity risk those cattle may pose.

“It is separate to the National Vendor Declaration waybill because the questions on the NVD relate primarily to food safety, whereas the Cattle Health Declaration is animal health related,” she said.

“Producers should request a Cattle Health Declaration to gather further information relevant to the health of their new purchases or incoming agistment stock.”

Ms O’Brien said those participating in the Johnes Beef Assurance Score program should send and request this document as part of risk assessment.

“The Cattle Health Declaration is not mandatory unless your cattle are Northern Territory-bound. This is an entry requirement of the Northern Territory Government.”

When it comes to animal welfare, Dr Weatherley said its inclusion in LPA was a customer guarantee that Australian red meat was “produced humanely, ethically, safely”.

“LPA-accredited producers must be able to demonstrate that on-farm systems have been implemented to ensure handling of livestock is consistent with the requirements of the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines,” she said.

The guidelines cover feed and water; risk management in extreme weather, natural disasters, disease, injury and predation; facilities and equipment; handling and management; breeding management; humane euthanasia; and land transport.

“For cattle, they also cover castration, dehorning and spaying, calf-rearing systems, dairy management and beef feedlots,” Dr Weatherley said.

“For sheep, additional chapters address tail docking and castration, mulesing and intensive sheep production systems.”

As of October 1, LPA-accredited producers must have access to a current copy of the guidelines as a reference on every property and that people involved in the husbandry of livestock must be familiar with its content.”