Back to Extension, training & tools

General guidelines for preparing and transporting sheep destined for live export

Live export 1.jpg

Good preparation of all classes of sheep prior to their intended live export journey supports a successful outcome.

Questions your transporter will ask you:

  • How many sheep?
  • How big are they (liveweight)?
  • What is their wool length?
  • Where are they located?
  • Where are they going?
  • Truck access – is it safe and suitable (gates, roads, powerlines, lighting)?
  • Is the ramp safe and yard operable for personnel and animals?
  • Will there be someone to help load?

Communication and journey planning

Getting the most accurate information on your consignment assists the transport operator to plan the journey and to schedule the truck.

Communication and journey planning

  • Ensure accurate directions and contact numbers have been provided.

  • Be ready for the truck; as part of your ‘chain of responsibility’ you must be ready for when the truck arrives. This impacts driver hours, and may have broader implications on delivery times, truck curfews and scheduling the driver for their next job. Communication and being prepared is essential.

  • Discuss your journey plan with your transport operator, considering:

    • trip duration and geography e.g. weather and road conditions - hilly or flat

    • sheep – class, weight, size/frame, pregnancy status, travel fitness and wool length

    • weather conditions at loading, during transit and at unloading – hot or cold, wet weather access for trucks

    • preparation plan considering the type of feed the animals have been on.

  • There will be different preparation considerations when booking the truck in summer versus winter. You want the sheep in the best shape possible, so factoring in the time of year and impact on sheep to ensure they arrive in good condition is essential.

  • Livestock must be transported in accordance with the National Land Transport Standards and Animal Welfare Regulations 2020 (Transport, Saleyards and Depots) (Cattle and Sheep).

  • Ensure there is ample truck access for the vehicle to manoeuvre to the yards and to access the ramp.

  • Ensure powerlines don’t pose a threat and there is plenty of clearance for the truck to drive under if required.

  • Ensure your ramp is fit for purpose. Check the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association guide for further information.

  • Open, two-way communication is essential with the transporter and buyer (if known) prior to transport.

Preparing the livestock – feed and water

  • Livestock going to export facilities (registered establishments) do not require the same water and feed withholding period as delivery to abattoirs. Consideration of rumen health is important for sheep arriving and going straight onto a pellet ration. Producers, agents, livestock transporters and exporters should work collaboratively to get the best outcome for the time of year and class of sheep.

  • Provision of good quality, dry hay or fibre before transport is advisable and recommended, especially for lambs.

  • Suggested maximum time off water +/- feed (can be on dry hay or fibre in the yards before loading) – the general recommendation for sheep destined for live export is a maximum time off water of:

    • 20 hrs for lambs and young sheep (lambs, hoggets, young wethers)

    • 30 hrs for mature sheep (wethers, rams, ewes).

  • The general recommendation is up to 15–24 hours off water with provision of good quality dry hay or fibre.

This is the total time off water from farm paddock to delivery at the registered establishment feedlot. The total length of time off feed and water will also need to consider the duration of the journey and whether the consignment will be provided a rest stop with feed and water.

  • The less time animals are deprived of good quality, dry hay, the faster they will adapt to the shipboard pelleted ration in the registered establishment.

  • Preparation strategies for sheep will vary between summer and winter.  Withholding water is an important consideration when transporting sheep in the winter. Sheep not curfewed off water in a truck pen are more likely to wet other sheep and make them more susceptible to cold stress in winter.

Preparing the sheep – handling

  • The more sheep have been handled over their lifetime, the better they travel.

  • It is recommended not to transport sheep for a period of two weeks after shearing.

  • Keep handling processes as normal as possible in the lead up to transport – animals will then know what to expect and will be less stressed.

  • Working with accredited animal welfare operators is beneficial to your business.

  • Talk with your transport operator about the benefits of administering electrolytes prior to transport.

  • Prepare and pen similar sheep classes and size together. They’ll have more chance of staying upright on the truck.

  • Ensure animals that are being prepared are – “If in doubt leave it out”.

  • Ensure paperwork is completed and facilities are safe, operational and ready for when the truck arrives to load your consignment.

  • Do not transport sheep in heavy rain or when it is cold, wet and windy.

  • Do not transport sheep in extremes of weather; intense rainfall combined with airflow through the crate in cold temperatures can exacerbate the cold conditions and presents increased cold stress risk for young animals in particular.

Note: Australian Wool Innovation has helpful advice on helping weaners thrive: Weaning

 

Rams

  • Ensure that rams are run together for a minimum of two to three days prior to loading. The longer the better, as this gets them accustomed to each other and settled in the yards, where they are able to establish their social hierarchy. It’s far better for this to happen in the yards than on the truck or trailer and results in less complications during transport. During this time, provide good quality dry hay and clean water.

  • Prior to transport take them off feed and water overnight and load at daylight the next morning.

  • Lighter penning density is an important consideration for rams.

  • Identify any dangerous animals prior to the truck arriving and communicate clearly with the driver which animal/s are higher risk (wild).

  • Have multiple people on-hand to load, to minimise risk. Never load alone - this is a significant Work Health Safety risk.

Sheep out of saleyards

  • Managing the animal welfare risk factors is a shared responsibility between all people involved, including producers, transport operators, saleyard personnel, livestock agents and stockpersons.

  • The provision of water, feed and rest at a saleyard must take into consideration the time off water and food during the initial transportation to the saleyard, and the likely duration of the second journey where livestock will again be deprived of food and water until receival at their final destination.

  • Communication between parties is critical and is often challenged by individuals only considering their part in the larger livestock journey. Providing appropriate access to feed and water in the context of the total journey is essential to ensure welfare and fitness to travel is assured.

  • From a livestock welfare perspective, the stages in the saleyard process and the responsibilities of relevant persons can be described clearly, as follows, however requests and responsibility are ultimately with the saleyard manager:

    • receival of livestock upon unloading (saleyard manager, livestock agents and stockpersons)

    • the care and management of livestock in the saleyards including the handling, drafting, including selection as ‘fit for sale’, appropriate treatment for weak, ill or injured animals, penning for sale, holding post-sale, provision of feed and water whilst holding at saleyard (receiver - saleyard manager, livestock agents and buyers)

    • assembly and preparation of livestock for transport, including selection as ‘fit for the intended journey’ and ensure they are appropriately fed and watered (consignor – saleyard manager, livestock agents, buyers).

  • If not dispatched within 24 hours of arrival at the saleyards for sale, they need to be fed.

Specific information for sourcing and export criteria for different classes of sheep

The Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock specify criteria which must be met before leaving the farm of origin and loaded onto a truck destined for the registered establishment.

  • Sheep must have been weaned at least 14 days prior to sourcing for export.
  • Sheep must not be sourced for export or exported unless they have a liveweight of 32kg or more, or if pregnant, 40kg or more.
  • Sheep must not be sourced for export or exported through any Australian ports north of latitude 26°S from 1 November to 31 May (inclusive).
  • Sheep must not be sourced for export or exported unless they have been assessed by a competent stock handler against the sheep body condition scoring in Table ASEL 3.3 and have a body condition score of two to four (inclusive) (on a scale of one to five).

Sheep body condition score

Score

Backbone

Short ribs

Illustration

1

The bones form a sharp narrow ridge. Each vertebra can be easily felt as a bone under the skin. There is only a very small eye muscle. The sheep is quite thin (virtually unsaleable).

The ends of the short ribs are very obvious. It is easy to feel the squarish shape of the ends. Using fingers spread 1cm apart, it feels like the fingernail under the skin with practically no covering.

2

The bones form a narrow ridge but the points are rounded with muscle. It is easy to press between each bone. There is a reasonable eye muscle. Store condition ideal for wethers and lean meat.

The ends of the short ribs are rounded but it is easy to press between them. Using fingers spread 0.5cm apart, the ends feel rounded like finger ends. They are covered with flesh, but it is easy to press under and between them.

3

The vertebrae are only slightly elevated above a full eye muscle. It is possible to feel each rounded bone but not to press between them. Forward store condition ideal for most lamb markets now. No excess fat.

The ends of the short ribs are well rounded and filled in with muscle. Using four fingers pressed tightly together, it is possible to feel the rounded ends but not between them. They are well covered and filled in with muscle.

4

It is possible to feel most vertebrae with pressure. The backbone is a smooth slightly raised ridge above full eye muscles and the skin floats over it.

It is only possible to feel or sense one or two short ribs and only possible to press under them with difficulty. It feels like the side of the palm, where maybe one end can just be sensed.

5

The spine may only be felt (if at all) by pressing down firmly between the fat covered eye muscles. A bustle of fat may appear over the tail (wasteful and uneconomic).

It is virtually impossible to feel under the ends as the triangle formed by the long ribs and hip bone is filled with meat and fat. The short rib ends cannot be felt.

Source: Lifetime Wool

  • Female sheep with a weight of 40kg or more, and all female fat-tailed sheep sourced for export as feeder or slaughter animals must be individually pregnancy tested using ultrasound within 30 days prior to export, by a competent pregnancy tester who must certify in writing that the animals are not detectably pregnant. The certification must include the certifier’s name, veterinary registration number or attestation to experience and skill in pregnancy testing of sheep, signature, the mob’s identification, and the date of the procedure.
  • Female sheep sourced for export as breeder animals must:

a) be pregnancy tested using ultrasound foetal measurement within 30 days prior to export, by a competent pregnancy tester

b) be certified in writing by the competent pregnancy tester as either not detectably pregnant or pregnant and if pregnant include the number of days pregnant. The certification must include the certifier’s name, veterinary registration number or attestation to experience and skill in pregnancy testing of sheep, signature, the individual identification number of the animal and the date of the procedure

c) be no more than 100 days pregnant at the scheduled date of discharge in the importing country.

  • Sheep with horns must not be sourced for export or exported if the horns:

a) could cause damage to the head or eyes of the animal or other animals during transport

b) could injure the animal or other animals during transport

c) could restrict access to feed or water during transport

d) are more than one full curl.