Farmers face crisis as welfare plan deadline looms, data reveals

Limiting sheep dog use is just one of the parts of new animal welfare plans which producers must complete to keep access to markets. This is what you need to know.

Livestock producers must now have an animal welfare plan to avoid missing out on market access.

But only 3500 of the nation’s estimated 35,000 producers have filled out the necessary paperwork to date despite many facing audits.

An animal welfare management plan is now part of the Livestock Production Assurance scheme, with LPA accreditation required to supply almost all processors across the nation.

Integrity Systems Company, which runs LPA as well as the national livestock identification system, said the plans would provide evidence of practices undertaken on farm that aligned with the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines.

ISC chief executive officer Jo Quigley said the plans were not a legally binding document or a statutory declaration.

But LPA auditors would be checking to see if producers had a welfare plan from September 1 onwards.

Ms Quigley said during the implementation period, auditors would ask for the plan and check the details in the plan had been implemented.

Some of the broad range of guidelines in the standards include:

- limiting the use of dogs and handling aids to the minimum needed to complete the task.

- disinfectant should be used and changed frequently at lamb marking, and

- ewes should be managed to optimise milk production to maximize protein availability for the lamb to aid wound healing after marking.

Ms Quigley said LPA auditors conducted a mix of remote and on site audits, and when remote, auditors validated that a producer’s on-farm activities are in line with the LPA requirements through interview and conducting a review of photos, videos and records.

Victorian Farmers Federation livestock group vice president Peter Miller said some producers would regard the welfare plan as “just another job to do”.

But he said they should complete the plan, for the good of the industry.

“This is showing our customers that we are serious about animal welfare, and we are being proactive rather than reactive,” Mr Miller said.

“We need to take the completion of this plan seriously as it will keep our market access secure.

‘Yes, the reaction from some producers is that it’s another piece of paper work but it is worth it as the world is changing and we need to be proactive.”

Mr Miller said the ability for producers to get 30 days grace to complete their welfare plan if they were audited and dit not have it was fair.

“If there are random LPA audits, at least there is the chance for eduction so producers will know what they have to do,” he said.