Now is the time to check your onfarm procedures are working well.
Seven new proposed regulations about the care and handling of young calves were announced by Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy on June 10, after a public consultation process.
The most relevant one for farmers will come into force on August 1 and is about fitness for transport. It says calves must be at least four days old and physically fit before they are transported for sale or slaughter.
The regulation reinforces the fact it’s the farmer’s responsibility to ensure all animals are old enough and strong enough to withstand the journey to the processors.
To help farmers achieve that, DairyNZ has developed a poster for the calf shed called ‘Tick all eight to leave the gate’ and an onfarm policy guide to establish good practice onfarm and train the farm team.
To make it easier to communicate with transporters, a pen pick-up sign is available from processing companies and DairyNZ’s website.
The sign advises the transporter how many calves, meeting the eight fit-for- transport criteria, were selected. On the reverse, the transporter can leave a message notifying if calves were not considered fit enough to travel.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Verification Services will increase their vigilance at processing plants and will look for evidence calves are physically fit and sufficiently mature. Where non-compliance is suspected, they will investigate by visiting farms that supplied the calves and look for evidence, in the form of onfarm policies and processes, that calves are indeed at least four days old and fit for transport when selected.
From minimum standards to regulation
Farmers have known for a while that new animal welfare regulations were on the way following the change to the Animal Welfare Act last year. The change allows MPI to put in place regulations to clarify and strengthen the minimum standards in the codes of welfare and make them more enforceable.
Before the change MPI could only realistically prosecute people at the high end of offending, ie those who were caught being wilfully neglectful or deliberately cruel towards animals. The new regulations will allow MPI to issue infringement notices and fines for those at the medium to lower end of offending.
Most of the proposed new regulations aren’t really new, they’re existing guidelines transformed into regulation to clarify MPI’s expectations. As a result, for most farmers who are already doing a good job, the regulations will mean no or minimal change to existing practices.
It’s still a good opportunity to check and document your processes onfarm and communicate them to your team and transporter.
What about the other regulations?
• Prohibiting the killing of any calves by use of blunt force trauma, except in an emergency situation. This is in line with the minimum standard brought in during June 2014 banning the use of blunt force trauma to routinely kill calves, except in an unforeseen emergency to minimise additional suffering.
• Setting a maximum duration of 12 hours’ journey time for young calves being transported for sale or slaughter. This is a regulation that has to be observed by transporters and processors and matches existing minimum standards. Transporting times and calf welfare will be closely monitored this season. MPI have indicated that this may be reviewed once more data is available.
• Prohibiting the transport of young calves by sea across the Cook Strait. The regulation supports that it is not suitable for young calves to travel across the strait, a historical practice that is no longer happening.
Further proposed regulations in 2017
Three further regulations are proposed to be introduced next year to ensure farmers, transporters and processors have enough time to make any changes necessary. These include:
• Young calves must be fed at least once in the 24 hours before slaughter. This is to ensure that calves are fed on the day of slaughter. Current standards allow for 30 hours without feed, which was considered too long. The expectation will be that processors will work with farmers to put in place processes to ensure this happens. It will mean processors can feed calves at the processing plant to achieve the 24-hour feed requirement if necessary.
• Suitable shelter must be provided for young calves before and during transportation, and at points of sale or slaughter. This ensures calves are given adequate shelter whether they are onfarm, in transport or at the processing plant.
• Loading and unloading facilities must be provided and used when young calves are transported for sale and slaughter. One reason for this is to minimise the risk of calves being handled roughly to get them on to the truck. It’s also driven by health and safety requirements, minimising the need for transporters to physically lift calves on to the truck.
Farmers might need to review their existing holding and loading facilities and adjust them if necessary to ensure compliance.
As well as MPI’s regulations, there are supply conditions farmers will be aware of, such as roadside collection of calves not being permitted because of health and safety hazards for other road users.
What are the consequences for farmers?
With the new regulations in place, animal welfare inspectors will be empowered to either issue an educational letter, directing a farmer to where a practice change is needed, or issue an on-the-spot-fine of $300-$500 per infringement.
Most farmers already meet the regulations because they have good processes and practices in place that match the existing minimum standards.
For advice, resources and training notes to help you meet your obligations around calving and calf care visit dairynz.co.nz/calves.
For further information about the new regulations, visit the Ministry for Primary Industries’ website: mpi.govt.nz
• Chris Leach is DairyNZ senior developer, animal husbandry and welfare
