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Landscape 30

Livestock SA is the voice of livestock producers on all livestock-related issues.

The organisation works to inform government, businesses and the wider community on the contribution of livestock producers to the food and fibre industries.

Livestock SA is one of six autonomous commodity groups in South Australia which focus on the needs of their members. Livestock SA works with Primary Producers SA and the other commodity groups on issues which affect all farmers, such as transport and natural resources management.

Livestock SA represents SA producers and their views on WoolProducers Australia, Sheep Producers Australia, Cattle Australia and Goat Industry Council of Australia.

Members can contribute to the direction of policy at a state and national level by attending Livestock SA meetings held regularly around the state or by contacting their nearest board member, regional representative or Livestock SA policy officer.

Policy Filter

Animal Welfare

Livestock SA encourages reasonable standards of husbandry and care be taken in the handling and care of livestock and supports the following principles:

  1. Livestock should not be exposed to unnecessary thirst. Sufficient water should be made available.
  2. Livestock should not be inappropriately exposed to hunger. Sufficient and appropriate food should be made available.
  3. Livestock should have reasonable freedom of movement and when resting that the animal be allowed to comfortably rest.
  4. Livestock should be provided an environment where they are not unnecessarily exposed to temperature extremes and where possible steps to mitigate such exposure are taken.
  5. Livestock should be maintained in an environment that will be hygienically maintained and avoidable exposure to preventable diseases be prevented.
  6. Livestock should be free of physical injuries and where injuries do occur the livestock be humanely treated.
  7. Livestock should not be exposed to unnecessary pain in their treatment or handling.
  8. Livestock should not be exposed to unnecessary distress.

Livestock SA endorses the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines (AAWS&G).

The AAWS&G aim to harmonise and streamline livestock welfare legislation in Australia, ensuring that it results in improved welfare outcomes and is practical for industry.

National and state frameworks of welfare are informed by Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines. These underpin access to domestic and overseas markets and reinforce Australia’s commitment to advancing meaningful and effective animal welfare outcomes.

Livestock SA supports mandating the use of pain relief for mulesing. Pain relief is recommended for other invasive procedures such as tail docking, dehorning and castration.

There are several pain relief products available to livestock producers, to find out which product is most suitable for procedures click here.

Biosecurity

Livestock SA promotes best practice biosecurity and recognises its importance in underpinning livestock production systems.

Livestock SA supports PIRSA's One Biosecurity (1B) which is South Australia’s voluntary on-farm biosecurity management program for Livestock producers. This online platform helps livestock producers better manage, protect and promote their animal health biosecurity practices and plans online.

For more information please visit the PIRSA's One Biosecurity Website

Cattle

Livestock SA strongly supports the introduction of a cattle transaction levy for all cattle sold in South Australia.

Goats

Rangeland goats to be held appropriately on SA pastoral properties until there are enough to transport (currently can hold for up to 6 weeks subject to Board approval).

There should be a 10-day holding period in a depot for rangeland goats before tagging is required

Industry & Government

Livestock SA believes that Agriculture should be a stand-alone ministerial portfolio.

Livestock SA requests a review of the South Australian Government’s Compulsory Acquisition legislation and policies with specific focus on the effect on farmland.


Livestock SA calls upon the South Australian Government to effectively communicate with land owners the imposition of caveats, easements and other impositions, including legislative changes to land owners and that any such communication should mandatorily address all adverse impacts upon the land owners including but not limited to, biosecurity impacts, disturbances, adverse business impacts caused by the easement or caveat, and any other disruptions with demonstrable negative effects on the operation of the farm.


Livestock SA petitioned the Commonwealth Government (through its organ the Australian Taxation Office) to clearly describe the operation of the Capital Gains Tax regime on land affected by compulsory acquisition. Such description should also consider the effect of any subsequent livestock and equipment sales and income.


Industry innovation

Livestock SA supports national guidelines on advanced breeding technologies including gene editing.

The growing of GM crops on mainland South Australia is now allowed. Livestock SA wants the GM moratorium on Kangaroo Island lifted so that livestock producers on Kangaroo Island will also have the same opportunity to choose to grow GM food crops as part of their farming practice.

Industry training & development

Livestock SA supports Certificate II in shearing and wool handling to continue to be a subsidised course for students

Livestock SA to be involved in supporting WoolTAG (Wool Training Advisory Group)

Invasive Species

Livestock SA has championed the replacement of the dog fence.

Livestock SA supports the reconsideration of the boundary for the collection of the Dog Fence Levy in South Australia.

Population management of large macropods (kangaroos, wallabies, euros etc) is necessary to avoid significant animal welfare, environmental and total grazing pressures.


Livestock SA supports the expansion of the kangaroo meat industry and commercialising of kangaroo products particularly skins across Australia and the development of overseas markets for not only kangaroo meat, but for kangaroo skins. It is not the role of the landholder to develop markets or install infrastructure for the commercial harvest of kangaroos unless it is under a mutually beneficial commercial arrangement.


Livestock SA is keen to see a review of the Kangaroo Management Reference Group with the aim to it having a more robust role in both kangaroo management and the expansion of the commercial kangaroo industry. This includes the coordination of commercial harvesters and the properties they can operate on, the cost of permits and training, and the development of a robust destruction permit system.

Livestock SA has endorsed the best practice guidelines as detailed in the SA Arid Lands NRM Board publication Best Practice Guidelines for Wild Dog Control, October 2017.

Livestock SA recommends wild dog management as a whole of landscape approach. Stakeholders should work together to deliver effective, coordinated, and humane management of wild dogs.

Livestock SA supports that producers outside the fence must be given access to the same wild dog control measures to those inside the fence.

Livestock SA supports the creation of a Wild Dog Control Board which absorbs the functions of the Dog Fence Board and the South Australian Wild Dog Advisory Group, but with the expanded role of managing wild dogs in general.

Mining

PPSA Mining and Gas Statement of Principles is supported.

Link: PPSA Mining and Gas Statement of Principles

Livestock SA believes that based on the concerns raised by livestock producers, fracking in the South East cannot proceed at this stage.


PPSA Mining and Gas Statement of Principles is supported

Link: PPSA Mining and Gas Statement of Principles

Native Vegetation

Livestock SA advocates that the Department for Environment and Water consults with adjourning landholders when conducting controlled burns on national parks and other reserves and Crown Land. The Department should also allow for backburns to be conducted in national parks

Sheep & wool

Livestock SA encourages and supports a national approach to use the latest technology for sheep and goats for management purposes, traceability, market access and feedback.

Livestock SA supports the vaccination of interstate movements as part of a producer’s on-farm biosecurity plan.

Livestock SA encourages all wool brokers and producers to use National Wool Declarations (NWDs)

Livestock SA supports the wool levy extension to five years with a provision for a 500-signature requirement to trigger a levy vote.

There should be a regulated oversight position for the wool industry and AWI.

Water security

Livestock SA believes that water security for livestock production is an immediate state-wide producer priority.

  • Need a sustainable and equitable price, improved resilience and long-term viability for the South Australian livestock industry.
  • State and Federal Governments to assist livestock producers to invest in water infrastructure.
  • Water delivery market in South Australia is to be promoted and encouraged.

SA livestock producers to be supported to become independent from the SA Water supply.