[ 31/03/2009 ]
With the aim of ensuring a high standard of animal welfare during transport, a course has been developed for truck drivers in northern Australia that are new to the industry.
The course was developed by the Northern Territory Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources (DRDPIFR) in conjunction with Meat and Livestock Australia. It focuses on the skills and knowledge needed to maximise welfare during long distance cattle transport.
"We hope to improve animal welfare outcomes during transport in the northern pastoral industry through best practice training," said DRDPIFR Pastoral Production Officer, Trisha Cowley.
"The course focuses on providing drivers with information relating to animal care during transit and their legal responsibilities to the cattle that they carry.
"Practical activities, guest speakers and a tailored stock handling DVD are used to give participants an understanding of how they can minimise the negative impacts of transport such as stress, weight loss and reduced meat quality.
"Recently there has been a decrease in the number of experienced drivers which is a real concern because they traditionally are the ones who provide on the job training to the increasing number of less experienced new staff.
"This is a new course in northern Australia and we plan to offer it to drivers in the Northern Territory and Queensland this year.
"We have strong support from the livestock transport industry as they understand the importance of maintaining high animal welfare standards within their industry.
"The pastoral industry has also seen the importance of such a course as animal welfare is an increasingly important consideration in livestock enterprises, not to mention the production benefits of reduced weight-loss and bruising and maintaining meat quality during transport," Ms Cowley said.
The practical course will be delivered in the Northern Territory at Darwin on April 9th and in Queensland at Charters Towers on April 15th and at Cloncurry on April 17th.
People wanting to register for the course can contact - Trisha Cowley on (08) 8973 9770 or E-mail at trisha.cowley@nt.gov.au