LACK of good livestock preparation by producers prior to transport is costing the nation's livestock carrier industry more than $50 million per annum in excessive washout costs, according to a new report released by the Australian Livestock Transporters Association.
The report resulted from an ALTA membership survey conducted in late 2009 in relation to preparation of livestock for transport and effluent spill from loaded stock crates, with results collated and presented by ALTA executive director Luke Faser.
The issue initially gained prominence in the ALTA/MLA 2007 membership survey where professional transporters suggested poor preparation was the number one animal welfare issue facing the industry.
Some 35 professional livestock transport companies from across all States responded to ALTA’s most recent 2009 survey.
As a result of the survey, ALTA has identified a number of key issues, including that a lack of awareness of good pre-transport stock preparation is widespread, and dirty truck crate washouts due to poor preparation is a significant "hidden" cost.
Analysis of the survey results suggest total cost of washouts for the stock carrier industry is in the order of $50.2 million per annum, while the water consumed for the task is approximately six billion litres per annum.
The ALTA report states that even marginal improvements in livestock preparation pre-transport would lead to less need for costly washouts - for example, reducing the number of average washouts by 25pc would improve the productivity of the sector by $12.55 million per annum and create a saving of 1.5 billion litres of water.
Beyond the financial costs, ALTA says heavy effluent loss in transit due to poor stock preparation is bad for many reasons.
Those reasons include: stock standing in thick effluent slurry will slip and fall more easily; dirty stock can shut down a processing plant; dirty stock may need to be washed individually before being processed, creating extra cost, risk and delay; and people who cause dangerous effluent slicks on roads can be prosecuted.
The report also reiterated the point that MSA slaughter pathway requirements are not a barrier to good preparation.
"The livestock production sector has often refused to take animals off green feed prior to transport by citing Meat Standards Australia 'requirements' to send animals 'full' to slaughter so as to stay within a maximum 24-hour off water slaughter pathway best practice," the report states.
"The findings of this ALTA survey suggests that actual Australian livestock transport journeys are in a great majority of cases quite short (on average, less than six hours, with maximum outer limits of transport times of 12 hours).
"As such, a short pre-transport preparation off green feed prior to transport can be afforded while still staying comfortably within the MSA 24-hour recommended limit.
"Loading animals full of green feed and water right up to point of loading in the mistaken belief that MSA requires this to occur represents a significant increase in effluent spill intensity."
So what exactly does good pre-transport livestock preparation mean?
According to ALTA, it means having stock presented for transport that are as calm and healthy for the journey ahead as possible.
"Excessive stress pre-transport or inherent weakness in the stock to be transported, the wrong approach to feeding and watering the animals or failure to manage excessive heat load build-up can all lead to stressful and risky transport episodes," the report states.
"This doesn't just increase the risk of effluent spill on the road and having stock covered in effluent themselves - it has significant animal welfare and food safety implications."
As a result of the survey findings, a draft guide "Good Stock Preparation Guide Pre-Transport" has been developed by a Stock Transport Effluent Spill Taskforce made up of the ALTA, the Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association, NSW Farmers Association, the Australian Lot Feeders Association and the Australian Meat Industry Council.
It is hoped the draft guide will be endorsed and a national industry guide to good pre-transport preparation developed early this year.
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