The Best Practice Management of Pregnant Dairy Cattle on Long Haul Voyages

Summary

There was no chapter in the LEAP Standards on the export of pregnant dairy cattle, and a chapter specifically devoted to Dairy Cattle needed to be built into the Standards.

Recommendations on the best practice management of pregnant dairy cattle are contained in boxes throughout this document. It should be noted also, that these recommendations are based on the consensus of the people interviewed. Concurrent literature and research has not been evaluated.

The recommendations of this report will be passed on to ALEC and Livecorp where the key issues can be debated further. They can then be passed onto AQIS, LASC and NACCAW for formal approval.

The management of pregnant dairy cattle takes on additional importance because the value of the animal is based on its eventual productive capacity rather than a residual slaughter value. Any factor such as mastitis or leg injury can have a big impact on its value on arrival.

In determining the recommendations it is recognized that there are great differences between voyages, the nature of the cargo and the vessels involved. A risk management approach is therefore promoted, however, the industry will need to define a set of minimum standards to address the management of this category of livestock.

The key recommendations stemming from this report are:

• A reduction of stocking density of between 15-20% for the shipment of pregnant dairy heifers (and cows), over and above the existing LEAP requirements for cattle on long haul voyages.

• Final stocking density reduction to be determined by a risk management approach after full consideration of all factors relating to the voyage, the cargo and the vessel.

• Pregnant dairy cattle are not to be shipped to destinations in the Middle East during the Northern Summer period.

• That all cattle be no more than 6 months pregnant at the time of shipping, (date of departure).

• That only a veterinarian with a proven track record of accurate detection of the stage of pregnancy in dairy cattle be used to undertake the required pregnancy testing.

• That any voyage that is anticipated to exceed a duration of 20 days be accompanied by a management plan that clearly shows how the exporter intends to compensate for the additional risk imposed by the longer duration of the voyage.

• That the stockmen used to accompany pregnant dairy cattle have significant experience in the management of pregnant dairy cattle as well as onboard experience.

• That only cattle in body condition 3 to 6 (inclusive) on the scale of 1-8 are selected for export.

• All cattle must be individually identified to assist in performance feedback.