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Development of training materials that are easily able to be accessed by accredited veterinarians and that provide guidance, tips and tools on how to perform disease
investigation-related tasks more safely, easily and with better results, is supported as a worthwhile investment in industry activities.
Voluntary, well-run, interactive, hands-on training courses in which accredited veterinarians could actively participate and share their knowledge would be welcomed.
In order for disease investigation protocols to be adequately serviced, the veterinarian, stockpersons and crew must work together as a team. This does not always happen
easily as some new veterinarians, although clinically very competent, are not always able to engage the stockpersons and crew because the veterinarians are unfamiliar with
their roles and responsibilities and how they should fit in. The first one or two voyages can be particularly difficult. For this reason a mentoring system is highly desirable.
2.3.2 Accredited stockpersons
The following profile of accredited stockpersons was formed after interviews with four experienced and active
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accredited stockmen, an exporter and managers from each of MLA and LiveCorp with responsibilities for live cattle exports.
There are over 350 accredited stockpersons for cattle boats but only about 80 are active. To become accredited, stockpersons must attend a training course more details on
stockman training are provided below. A mentoring system exists in that stockpersons must accompany two voyages with satisfactory outcomes - as assessed by the
shipboard veterinarian and the exporter to become fully accredited.
Stockpersons wishing to become accredited must provide a curriculum vitae to demonstrate numeracy and literacy skills and details of a sound background in handling
livestock and a reference from an exporter or employer to support their claims in this area.
As with veterinarians, interpersonal skills and ability to work in a cross cultural environment are important for stockpersons to work effectively on board and should be
considered for inclusion in training. Similar to accredited veterinarians, stockpersons have no formal authority on board, therefore they must rely on developing good working
relationships with the officers and crew on board, especially the Chief Officer and bosun if their advice is to be accepted and tasks they want done implemented.
In order to work with the accredited veterinarian as a team and become involved with the veterinarian a
nd ship’s officers in major decisions concerning management of the cattle on board, the stockpersons must have a sound knowledge of animal health and welfare
problems likely to be encountered and the principles of managing these problems. Therefore provision of this sound knowledge needs to be a priority in any stockman
training program.
Stockpersons want training in the areas of: o
how to decide when to treat and how to treat an animal o
how to decide when an animal should be euthanased o
safe use, care and maintenance of spring loaded impact injection poles ie Westerguns
o general knowledge of cattle health and welfare sufficient for stockpersons to work
alone or to work as a team with the vet erinarian and ship’s officers
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Active accredited stockpersons are those who regularly accompany livestock ships.
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2.4 Training course and materials currently available
