Record keeping
Produers need to keep good records to support Australia's global reputation as a source of safe and traceable red meat. These records act as proof of responsible on-farm risk management.
Good records also allow claims made on the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) National Vendor Declaration and Waybill (LPA NVD/Waybill) to be substantiated. Producers can easily check, for example, when livestock were most recently chemically treated and therefore when they can be sent to market, confident that they will be outside withholding periods (WHP) and export slaughter intervals (ESI).
Keeping good records on chemical usage, fodder feeding, stock movement, stock treatment, disease and management activities makes it easy to comply with industry protection programs such LPA. LPA requires producers to have accurate records which will be checked as part of its random audit process. When signing an LPA NVD/Waybill, a producer is signing their compliance with LPA.
How to keep records
There is no perfect formula to record keeping. Some producers find that keeping clear notes in a diary works well for them, others use spreadsheets on their computers. Regardless of the method, it is important that all relevant management activities be accurately and clearly recorded and there are dedicated tools that can help with this.
Key aspects of management that should be recorded include:
- Livestock treatments - Including date, identification of mob, number of stock, product, batch number, expiry date, WHP/ESI and date safe for slaughter.
- Grain and fodder treatment record - Including date, silo/storage identification, amount, product, batch number, expiry date, WHP/ESI and date safe for use.
- Crop, pasture and paddock treatment record - Including date, paddock identification, area, product, batch number, application rate and method, expiry date/ date of manufacture, WHP/ESI, and the date paddocks are safe to graze.
- Record of purchased or introduced livestock - Keeping the sender copy of the LPA NVD/Waybill, which records the date, LPA NVD/Waybill number, number of stock, identification, breed, sex, age, agent/sale, vendor (name and address) and Property Identification Code (PIC).
- Livestock feeding record - Including date, commodity vendor declaration (CVD) number, origin of feedstuff, description of feedstuff, amount, storage location, identification of livestock fed and time of feeding (start and finish dates).
- Records of livestock sold - Keeping a copy of the LPA NVD/Waybill as this records the date, LPA NVD/Waybill number, number of stock, identification, breed, sex, age, purchaser/ agent/ sale, date and time of yarding, transport company and vehicle registration number.
- Property risk assessment - Conducting a property assessment and record any possible contaminated sites, the reason or risk identified, results received (if soil samples were conducted), description of how the site is managed to eliminate the risk of livestock contamination.
It is important to see record keeping as an important component of business management to support claims and assist in decision making.
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