New regs proposed for transport of animals
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THE use of livestock vehicles by farmers as well as by hauliers and dealers is affected by proposed regulations for the transport of farm animals and horses by road. At present the proposed regulations have been circulated by the Ministry of Agriculture to interested parties, including the Road Haulage Association and the National Farmers' Union.
Current legislation covering the movement of animals by road from the Transit of Animals Order, 1927 to the Transit of Calves Order, 1963 applies to road vehicles used on hire. But under the new proposals, regulations will apply to vehicles operated by farmers. It will be the responsibility of owners or those in charge of the animals to ensure that the animals are adequately protected in the prevailing conditions whatever the type of transporter used.
The proposed regulations are set out in a six-page document and deal with protection from unnecessary suffering, feeding and watering, loading and unloading, separation of species, distribution of animals, cleansing and disinfection in addition to other aspects of animal movement.
A record of stock carried in transporters is to be kept and the form of this record is set out in an appendix. Incidentally, this requirement will not affect the provisions of the Movement of Animals (Records) Order, 1960. Another appendix details the requirements related to the construction of road transporters. First reaction to the proposed regulatiol from haulage operators is that some of tt requirements are too stringent in minor d tails and yet, in contrast, surprisingly perm the movement of mixed loads of cattle ar horses.
Opposition is expected to be forthcomir from the farming community by the inch' sion in these proposed regulations of ar movement of animals they might make t road. It is pointed out that in many cast such movement, although admittedly on public highway, is often a totally differei exercise from livestock movement by ti professional haulier. Often a farmer is doir little more than moving livestock from or field or farm to another so that requirement including keeping of records, which wei reasonable for a long journey could unduly onerous when applied to local fan movement.
It is understood, however, that befoi finalizing these regulations it is the offici intention to have regard to correspondir regulations which subsequently might be al plied to the movement of livestock by °till modes of transport such as by air or wate Overall, therefore, it is unlikely that the pl.( posed regulations as applied to road tran: port will become effective in the near futur Baird Interest: The William Baird and Co. Lt group has acquired a 35 per cent interest in Antral Group (Australia) Pty. With a capital of f2Arr Alltrans is one of the largest private transport firms Australia.