W.LIV.2026 - Livestock export by air best practice manual and training package
There are currently no standardised materials or training materials available on managing animal welfare during the air export process.
| Project start date: | 19 April 2021 |
| Project end date: | 31 May 2023 |
| Publication date: | 24 January 2024 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grain-fed Cattle, Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep, Goat, Lamb |
| Relevant regions: | National, International |
Summary
This project will develop a comprehensive best practice manual and training package that addresses animal welfare management, current air freight best practice procedures and regulatory requirements for the livestock air export process. This will enable exporters to address recent updates to the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL), which introduced a requirement for a ‘competent stock handler’ to accompany the majority of air export flights from 1 November 2021.
Objectives
The objectives of this contracted consultant of this project are as follows;
1. Develop a comprehensive best practice manual for the livestock air freight industry, with a focus on current air freight best practice procedures and regulatory requirements, utilising the previously developed draft manual as a starting point.
2. Develop an online, self-driven, non-accredited training module for stock handlers in the air freight industry to improve and evidence basic competency in animal welfare and care. The training module should utilise the best practice manual as support and reference material.
Key findings
The project was terminated early due to changes in regulatory requirements, and industry no longer requires the delivery of the final milestone of this project.
Benefits to industry
This research was terminated early due to changes in regulatory requirements. MLA made the decision to not pursue this research as the learnings from the final report would have little to no benefit to industry.
MLA action
This online summary will be published on the MLA R&D website.
Future research
There will be no further research in this area in the near future.
More information
| Project manager: | Sharon Dundon |
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
