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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
Cattle must be assembled in an AQIS registered premise for a defined period of time. This is to allow the animals to recover from the stress of transport and become accustomed to
shipboard feed rations.
Due to the variability and seasonality of the live export trade many registered premises have dual purposes. They operate as pre-export assembly depots when required, and fattening
feedlots for non-export animals at other times. All livestock entering a registered premise may only leave that facility for export or domestic slaughter.
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During their time in the assembly depot all of the protocolling procedures will be finalised to ensure that animals meet the preparation and health requirements set out in the importing
country import protocol.
After protocolling animals are drafted into groups ‘lines’ according to one or more of the following:
type Bos taurus vs Bos indicus; sex;
purpose feeder, slaughter, breeder; weight; and
breed. Some lines of animals will receive additional treatments for example prophylactic
antibiotics, in the lead up to loading either as part of the protocol or at the exporter’s discretion. These are usually animals that are considered to be at a higher risk of developing
disease during the voyage, particularly respiratory disease.
8.1.4 Assembly period
During the assembly period cattle are kept in large pens typical of a feedlot. Stocking densities must meet minimum ASEL requirements for square-metres per head.
Pens have concrete or compacted dirt floors, water troughs and feed bunkers, and may be covered or uncovered. The minimum quantity of feed that must be available is set out in
ASEL. The type of ration is not specified in ASEL and, although it may be similar to that fed during the voyage, it is rarely the same. Hay may be mixed in with the ration to stimulate gut
activity and encourage shy feeders to eat. Animals are usually fed twice a day.
Cattle are usually checked three times a day by the depot stockpersons. Sick animals may be removed to a hospital pen or treated in the pen. Dead livestock must be collected and
disposed of on a daily basis as stipulated in ASEL. Dead animals are rarely necropsied to determine the cause of death.
Cattle may be held in the registered premises for 24 hours to 30 days depending on minimum ASEL requirements and pre-export quarantine requirements stipulated in the
importing country protocol. Quarantine periods are generally shortest for slaughter cattle, longer for feeder cattle, and longest for breeder cattle. For short haul voyages 10 days
the ASEL minimum requirements are 24 hours for voyages with a single port of loading and discharge and one clear day not including the day of arrival or day of departure for voyages
with multiple port loadings or discharges. For long-haul voyages 10 days cattle must be held in the registered premises for no less than two clear days.
8.1.5 Rejects and Carry-overs
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