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8.1 Description of management of cattle in assembly depots
8.1.1 Sourcing
Most exporters source cattle through in-house buyers, although buyers from agency firms e.g. Landmark, Elders may also be used particularly if the exporter is sourcing cattle
outside their usual geographical area.
Sourcing of cattle may begin one week to months before the ship sails, depending on the type of cattle being exported and the importing country requirements. For example, cattle
may be sourced 7+ days prior for South East Asian markets, and up to 45 days prior for Middle Eastern and European markets.
The majority of cattle are bought directly off farm to comply with the property of origin residency requirements stipulated in the importing country import protocol. Shipments
typically comprise animals from multiple properties with each property supplying up to five percent of the animals on the shipment.
Cattle may be purchased through saleyards but only if this does not contravene property of origin residency requirements.
8.1.2 Protocolling
Animals sourced for export must meet with various requirements as stipulated in the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock ASEL
and the importing country’s protocol. Protocolling refers to the various checks and testing procedures that may be undertaken to
ensure that animals do comply with these requirements. Usually, protocolling is done while animals are being held in an AQIS registered premise assembly depot, although some
procedures, such as pregnancy testing, may be done at the property of origin.
Where necessary during protocolling animals will be individually restrained in a race or crush for examination and sampling for procedures including:
scanning of individual electronic identification tags RFIDNLIS and application of visual eartags;
taking a blood sample for serological testing; measurement of liveweight;
administration of required treatments such as vaccination, drench or prophylactic antibiotics; and
treatment of minor conditions detected during handling such as ophthalmic conditions.
8.1.3 Induction into assembly depot
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