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Best practice guidelines for goats

Good preparation of goats prior to their intended journey supports a successful outcome.

Communication and journey planning

  • Getting the most accurate information on your consignment assists the transport operator planning the journey and scheduling the truck.
  • As part of the chain of responsibility you must be ready once the truck arrives as this has implications on driver hours, may have broader implications on delivery times and truck curfews and scheduling the driver for their next job. Communication and being prepared is essential.
  • Discuss your journey plan with your transport operator, thinking about:
    • trip duration and geography e.g. general road conditions, hilly or flat
    • goats – class, temperament, pregnancy status, size and strength
    • critical when moving goats in the winter are the weather conditions at loading, during transit and at unloading – hot or cold, wet weather access for trucks.
  • Ensure accurate directions and contact numbers have been provided.
  • Ensure there is ample truck access for the vehicle to manoeuvre to the yards and access the ramp.
  • Ensure your ramp is fit for purpose.

Preparing goats – feed and water

  • Separate by sex, prior to the truck arriving, discuss with your transport operator whether they will be trucked all together or remain separated.
  • Take all classes of goats off water overnight in extreme heat and in the winter a minimum of 24-36 hours prior to departure. It is very important to discuss this with your transport operator as the length of journey will also be another consideration as well as expected weather conditions for the planned trip.
  • Goats do not cope with cold weather, therefore managing time off water during the cold months is critical, goats are very susceptible to cold stress.
  • Keep all classes of goats on good quality, dry hay until loading in both summer and winter.
  • When preparing goats for their intended journey, ensure that the same weight, size and classes are put together.
  • Supply chain relationships are front and centre of how the livestock transport industry moves animals. Getting as much information as possible on the livestock, prior planning and communication are essential.

Preparing the goats – handling

  • The more goats have been handled over their lifetime, the better they travel.
  • Keep everything as normal as possible in the lead up to the trip – animals will know what to expect.
  • Working with accredited animal welfare operators is beneficial to your business.
  • Ensure animals that are being prepared are fit to load. "If in doubt, leave it out."

Fit to load checklist

Before livestock are loaded, ensure you complete this checklist. Remember, it’s your responsibility to ensure animals are fit to load and fit for the intended journey ahead of loading.

The animal:

  • can walk on its own by bearing weight on all four legs
  • is free from visible signs of severe injury or distress or conditions likely to further compromise its welfare during transport
  • is strong enough to make the journey (i.e. not dehydrated or emaciated)
  • can see well enough to walk, load and travel without impairment or distress (e.g. it is not blind in both eyes)
  • is not in late pregnancy or too young to travel (refer to the Time off water and spelling periods table)
  • has had adequate access to water prior to loading to meet the maximum time off water standards.

Note: If the animal was grazed on lush green pasture, ensure it was removed from the paddock well in advance of loading and provided with access to adequate roughage (where possible). Make sure the animals are prepared in the best way possible, noting water curfew is very important when transporting goats. Ensure paperwork is completed and facilities are safe, operational and ready for when the truck arrives to load your consignment.

Effective practices for preparing for the transport of livestock include:

✓ resting recently mustered livestock prior to loading

✓ co-mingling of animals from different mobs well in advance of the journey

✓ recording and communicating the date and times livestock last had access to feed and water

✓ competent selection of livestock prior to loading

✓ performing husbandry practices (e.g. horn tipping) well in advance of the journey

✓ planning the journey with consideration given to the length of the journey and weather conditions

✓ utilisation of appropriate loading facilities that are fit for purpose according to the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Livestock at Saleyards and Depots

✓ knowing who to contact in case of an emergency.

Specific information for different classes of goats

Transporting breeder goats
  • Communicate with your transport operator to consider all factors:
    • seasonal conditions, summer versus winter movement
    • geography of the trip
    • size, pregnancy status and strength of goats
    • adequate time off water
    • feeding dry hay prior to transport.
  • These factors are very important and provide the transport operator with the appropriate detail to plan the journey.
  • Distance and duration are also important considerations. Speak with your transport operator, however the preference is to load early morning and load quickly.
  • Handle breeder goats with care prior to transport. This reduces stress and therefore lowers the risk of aborting during transit.
  • Allow plenty of time for sorting and handling the goats prior to the truck arriving. Ideally this will happen when the goats are prepared and yarded the night before the truck arrives. It is not recommended to be handling and drafting just before loading.
Transporting slaughter goats
  • Communicate with your transport operator to consider all factors:
    • seasonal conditions, summer versus winter movement
    • geography of the trip
    • size and strength of goats
    • adequate time off water
    • feeding dry hay prior to transport.
  • These factors are very important and provide the transport operator with the appropriate detail to plan the journey.
  • Distance and duration are also important considerations. Speak with your transport operator, however the preference is to load early morning and load quickly.
  • Allow plenty of time for sorting and handling the goats prior to the truck arriving. Ideally, this will happen when the goats are prepared and yarded the night before the truck arrives. It is not recommended to be handling and drafting just before loading.
Transporting compromised goats
  • Compromised goats include those which are nutritionally deficient in droughts or compromised from extreme events such as bushfires and floods.
  • Work out a pre-journey management plan and journey plan with the transport operator to consider the condition of animals, breed, location, weather, distance and geography of journey.
  • Consider if animals are in distress or are they moving freely and happily?
  • Animals must be fit to load – "if in doubt, leave them out."
  • If the animal is not fit to load you must:
    • treat the animal and reassess, then once recovered and fit to load, the animal can be transported, or
    • consult a vet and then transport under veterinary certification and provide bedding when transporting these animals, or
    • euthanise the animal on farm.

Case studies