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Beef Breeder MANUAL
1.2.3. Quarantine Facilities
The requirements for quarantine facilities for cattle on arrival in country vary depending on local authorities. In
many cases, the importer will be required to establish a quarantine facility on their property under the guidance
and approval of the local veterinary authority.
The quarantine facility will normally be one or more pens that are able to contain the cattle under daily
supervision for the duration of the quarantine period. In some circumstances, allowance may be made by local
authorities to quarantine the cattle in paddocks. In both instances, the quarantine facilities must;
• Be able to contain the cattle securely • Provide adequate space for the cattle
• Prevent contact between the imported cattle and local animals
• Provide a clean and reliable supply of good quality water
• Provide shelter against adverse weather conditions • Allow the animals to be fed and monitored daily
• Have facilities that enable individual animals to be handled safely and treated for illness or injury as
required • Have isolation pensareas that can accommodate
individuals that need to be separated from the herd and treated diferently
• Be accessible to farm staf and Government Authorities at all times
• Control access to the site by authorised persons only
• Implement adequate site entry and exit biosecurity measures.
Where the quarantine facility needs to be constructed on the property and it is required to be a coninement
feeding facility, consideration should be given to making the facility a long-term asset for subsequent use to
support the ongoing management of the herd, such as for coninement feeding of the herd during winter, or
backgrounding and feedlot inishing.
Speciic planning and construction considerations for conined feeding yards are provided in the TECHNICAL
NOTE - Planning Coninement Facilities.
1.2.4. Water on Arrival
To accommodate for the efects of dehydration during the journey, cattle must be provided with an unrestricted
supply of good quality water. In addition glucose can be added to the water to aid in rapid recovery of animals
on arrival.
The water requirements of cattle varies with the age and physiological status of the animals, air temperature, and
the type of forage consumed. For practical management, the following table provides estimations of the daily
water requirements for a range of cattle Table 1.1. These quantities may be used to plan the water needs
for imported cattle in the period immediately following their arrival.
Water intake Lday for a range of air temperatures
Type of Cattle 5
o
C 15
o
C 25
o
C 35
o
C Calves 2 to 6 months of age
23 30
45 67
Weaners 7 to 11 months of age 26
34 50
74 Yearlings 12 months of age
34 39
56 85
Pregnant Heifers and Dry Cows 24
27 38
59 Lactating Cows
45 52
69 95
Bulls 34
39 56
85
Table 1.1. Estimated water requirements of beef cattle. Source: Adapted from National Research Council 2000.
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Cold Winter Climates
Water troughs should be long enough to provide drinking space for 10 of the yard at any one time. Allow
300mm length of trough for every 10 head in the yard. That means that one 3m trough section will water 100
head, provided there is enough volume and pressure of water to keep the trough illed, around 10 Lhead
hour Source: New South Wales Department of Primary Industries - Opportunity lot feeding of beef cattle, 2004.
Glucose consumed in the water will provide a readily absorbed energy supplement to assist with the recovery
of the cattle following travel, and its taste may also encourage cattle to drink from an unfamiliar water
source on arrival. It is recommended to continue glucose for 3 to 5 days following arrival at the quarantine
facility. A daily intake of 50 to 100grams of glucose per head per day is recommended, and can be administered
by mixing glucose powder with water and mixing into water troughs, with reference to the estimated daily
water intake for diferent types of cattle and prevailing air temperature in Table 1.1.
Regular cleaning of the water troughs is a priority for the irst few days after arrival to ensure that cattle remain
well watered.
1.2.5. Management of Health on Arrival