Livestock SA

Your strong and independent voice for livestock producers.

Draft Regional Landscape Plans – Have your say!

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Have your say on the draft Regional Landscape Plans which set the vision and priorities for regions throughout SA to achieve sustainable landscape management.

As each landscape board plan will have implications, goals and actions for livestock producers in all regions, Livestock SA is seeking comments from producers.

Find your region below and have your say:

Provide your comments to Policy Officer Michele Walter (mwalter@livestocksa.org.au). 

SA Professional Field Processors Organisation (SAPFPO)

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South Australian Professional Field Processors Organisation (SAPFPO) and Livestock SA have developed a process to streamline the number of Kangaroos shot under destruction into the commercial harvesting industry.

SAPFPO have unified over 50% of the commercial harvesters in South Australia for the purpose of the following SAPFPO mission statement:

  • SAPFPO is the representative advocacy body and collaborative industry network base for commercial kangaroo harvesters. Professional kangaroo harvesting is the ethical, moral and humane approach for controlling kangaroo populations.
  • SAPFPO is focused on developing strategic pragmatic solutions at the industries foundation to raise the standard of animal welfare outcomes and mitigate kangaroos growing environmental impact on grazing pressure, for sustainable use as a high-quality free-range resource

If you are experiencing an abundant number of Kangaroos on your property, please register your interest to engage a Commercial Harvester below. SAPFPO will connect a commercial harvester that operates in your area and supply the harvester with the Landholders contact information.

Download form (PDF)

Download form (Word)

Review of the Veterinary Practice Legislation in South Australia

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It is disappointing that livestock producers are not listed as one of the stakeholder groups in the Veterinary Practice Legislation, particularly given the importance of the livestock sector to the South Australian economy.

The livestock sector is one of the largest single users of veterinary services in SA. Livestock SA recommends the Act be amended to enable the inclusion of a representative of the primary sector be included on the Board and to have the Minister refer to Primary Producers SA to seek a nomination of a suitable person for the seat on the Board.

SA producers often complain there are not enough veterinarians in rural areas. As producers need to ensure their animals are cared for appropriately, experienced animal producers should not be criminalised for providing or administrating certain levels of care to their animals if veterinarians are not available (such as administering drugs).

Alternate methods of inspection, rather than a vet visit, need to be established as vet visits and consults are often not practical (e.g., during COVID-19 restrictions). Livestock SA also recommends the legislation be changes to allow for laparoscopic AI to be performed by lay operators.

Read the Livestock SA submission

Revised Planning and Design Code Consultation

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Livestock SA has previously made submissions on Phase Two (Rural Areas) and Phase Three (Urban Areas) of the Draft Planning and Design Code Consultation. As part of these submissions, Livestock SA raised the conflict between primary production industries and believes this issue is still not addressed in the revised Planning and Design Code. Livestock SA believes if we are to protect and grow existing broadacre agriculture and avoid conflict with other agricultural pursuits, there needs to be policies in place ensuring that with any change, it becomes the responsibility of the landowner making the change, including to more intensive agriculture, viticulture and horticulture, to provide the appropriate buffers and anything else that may be required. Livestock SA also believes where broadacre land becomes non-viable due to restrictions imposed by approved new activities, particularly in the peri-urban zone, needs to be addressed further and remains concerned that broadacre livestock production has already been virtually squeezed out of this zone, with a resultant loss of economic production for the State.

Read the Livestock SA submission

NFF seeking input on Farm Data Code

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The National Farmers’ Federation is calling on stakeholders to have their say, as part of a review of the Australian Farm Data Code. The Code was released in February of this year, and the NFF is now seeking to understand awareness and uptake of the Code, as well as appetite for certification of products and services.

Click here to have your say. Survey closes end of January 2021.

Limestone Coast Pest Management Strategy Review

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The Pest Management Strategy plan will be able to provide a good basis for some effective pest polices for the effective management and control of pest plants and animals.

Livestock SA believes consideration should be given in the review to supplementing pest risk assessments with benefit cost analyses, so that an economic assessment can also be made of the management and control programs for pest animals and plants.

Livestock SA also believes rabbit management should be moved to the ‘destroy infestations’ management category as it is estimated rabbits cause over $200 million a year in losses to Australian agriculture.

Feral cats also need to be mentioned when discussing management of pests as they can threaten lamb production and carry infectious diseases.

Mention of the management of over-abundant native animals has not been discussed in the review.

Of particular concern in the Limestone Coast region are the relatively high numbers of kangaroos, the ease with which kangaroo numbers can quickly increase and the effect this can have on total grazing pressure. Further options need to be considered for effective control of kangaroos in this region.

Read the Livestock SA submission

Stock on Roads Operational Instruction

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The Road Traffic Act does not currently contain any requirements for traffic control when droving stock along roads. While there is no regulatory requirement to use signs when moving stock, stockowners have a duty of care to warn others of potential hazards due to the movement of animals under their control. Both temporary and permanent signs are only intended to warn drivers of the likelihood of stock being on the road.

Summary

Temporary warning signs

  • Signs are encouraged when stock is about to enter, crossing or on a road
  • An orange flag (450 mm x 300 mm) may also be used to improve visibility of signs but not compulsory
  • Signs should not be left up on a permanent basis and are not suitable for night use
  • Signs should be places on the shoulder of the road and should be visible to drivers over an approach distance of 80 m up to 250m depending on approach speed

Use of flashing yellow lights

  • Stockowners are permitted to use yellow flashing lights when moving stock
  • The light must be mounted on top of a vehicle and must be visible from all sides
  • Flashing yellow lights are not compulsory however, are encouraged when stock are not clearly visible to a driver or a vehicle is left stationary not clear of the shoulder while the stock is being moved

Permanent stock crossing and warning signs

  • Permanent signs are often installed where there are daily stock movements occurring across or along the road between paddocks or on an unfenced road where there is potential for wandering stock
  • No signs may be installed on roads without the approval of the appropriate road authority

Read the updated Stock on Roads operational instruction

 

Livestock SA

Unit 5 780 South Road GLANDORE SA 5037
08 8297 2299
0419 037 569 (after hours)
0419 037 569 (mobile)
08 8293 8886
admin@livestocksa.org.au
 


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