Cattle

The ‘Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Cattle’ are part of a series of projects to develop livestock welfare standards and guidelines.

The standards and guidelines for cattle will be refined from the Model Code of Practice for the welfare of animals (MCOP) and will apply to all people responsible for the care and management of cattle.

‘The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Cattle’ will follow the principles described in the revised Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines Development Business Plan.

The cattle writing group is responsible for drafting the standards and guidelines for cattle. It is comprised of representatives from Animal Welfare Committee (AWC), Cattle Council of Australia (CCA), Australian Lot Feeders` Association Inc (ALFA), Dairy Australia, CSIRO and DAFF. The group is led by an independent Chair and supported by Animal Health Australia (AHA).

The cattle reference group is comprised of representatives from all aspects of cattle care and management. Cattle reference group meetings are held to review the standards and guidelines draft and provide to further guidance, a 90 day public consultation period is part of the process.

Progress report

Following significant delays, the development process for the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for cattle has recommenced with a successful meeting of the writing group last week.  Further consultations and revision will now take place, leading to a reference group meeting planned for April 2012, just prior to the public consultation phase.