Minimum standards of animal welfare and recommended best practices for anyone responsible for sheep and beef cattle are outlined in a new draft code of welfare to be released for consultation by the NAWAC tomorrow. The code is intended to encourage all those responsible for the welfare of sheep and beef cattle to exceed the minimum standards and adopt the best industry practices of husbandry, care and handling and the draft can be seen in the public consultation section of MAFBNZ web. The draft code covers all sheep and beef cattle farmed mainly for their meat, fibre and/or their offspring. Sheep and cattle of recognised dairy breeds are covered if they are weaned and farmed for meat production. Proposed minimum standards cover all aspects of sheep and beef cattle husbandry, including stockmanship, handling, breeding and the provision of food, water, shade, shelter and housing. Requirements around shearing, protection from flystrike, the use of feed pads and selection for transport are also addressed.
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