{"id":"animal-welfare-transport-saleyards-and-depots-cattle-and-sheep-regulations-2020","name":"Animal Welfare (Transport, Saleyards and Depots) (Cattle and Sheep) Regulations 2020","slug":"animal-welfare-transport-saleyards-and-depots-cattle-and-sheep-regulations-2020","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":173607,"registerId":"wa-animal-welfare-transport-saleyards-and-depots-cattle-and-sheep-regulations-2020-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Animal Welfare (Transport, Saleyards and Depots) (Cattle and Sheep) Regulations 2020","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nAnimal Welfare Act 2002\n\nAnimal Welfare (Transport, Saleyards and Depots) (Cattle and Sheep) Regulations 2020\n\nWestern Australia\n\nAnimal Welfare (Transport, Saleyards and Depots) (Cattle and Sheep) Regulations 2020\n\nContents\n\nPart 1 — Preliminary\n\n1. Citation 1\n\n2. Commencement 1\n\n3. Terms used 1\n\n4. Transport process 7\n\n5. Journey and journey times 8\n\n6. Persons responsible 9\n\n7. Reasonable access to feed 10\n\n8. Reasonable access to water 10\n\n9. Unfit to undertake a journey 10\n\n10. Unfit for sale 11\n\n11. Prescribed conditions 12\n\n12. Calculating time off water and maximum time off water 13\n\n13. Calculating length of spell and minimum spell periods 14\n\n14. Method of humane destruction 14\n\n15. Heat stress and cold stress 15\n\nPart 2 — General welfare provisions\n\n16. Application of Part 16\n\n17. General mishandling and mistreatment of livestock 16\n\n18. Dragging livestock 17\n\n19. Lifting livestock 18\n\n20. Use of electric stock prod 18\n\n21. Use of dogs generally 19\n\n22. Duty to spell livestock 19\n\n23. Humane destruction of livestock 20\n\nPart 3 — Provisions for the transport process\n\nDivision 1 — General duties\n\n24. Records relating to journeys 22\n\n25. Duty to retain records relating to journey 23\n\n26. Duty to produce records relating to journey 24\n\n27. False or misleading information given to livestock transporters for purposes of journey records 24\n\n28. Duty to advise of arrival at destination 24\n\nDivision 2 — General provisions for vehicles, loading and unloading\n\n29. Suitability of vehicles for transporting livestock 24\n\n30. Loading and unloading livestock 25\n\nDivision 3 — General requirements for livestock handling facilities (other than saleyards and depots)\n\n31. Suitability of livestock handling facilities (other than saleyards and depots) 26\n\nDivision 4 — Welfare of livestock during transport process\n\n32. Selection and supply of livestock for transport 27\n\n33. Loading livestock unfit to undertake a journey 27\n\n34. Duty to make appropriate arrangements for livestock 28\n\n35. Transporting livestock unfit to undertake journey if loaded outside WA 28\n\n36. Reasonable loading density not to be exceeded 29\n\n37. Duty to protect livestock against extreme weather conditions during transport process 30\n\n38. Duty to segregate livestock on vehicle 30\n\n39. Dogs on vehicles 30\n\n40. Duty to assess welfare of livestock during journey 31\n\n41. Weak, injured, ill or distressed livestock unloaded at destination 32\n\n42. Moribund livestock 32\n\n43. Reasonable access to water after unloading at livestock handling facility (other than saleyard or depot) 33\n\nDivision 5 — Special provisions for bobby calves\n\n44. Bobby calves under 5 days of age 33\n\n45. Bobby calves over 5 days of age 34\n\n46. Bobby calves consigned to saleyard for sale for slaughter 34\n\n47. Premature bobby calves 35\n\n48. Duty to protect bobby calves from heat and cold stress 35\n\n49. Use of dogs with bobby calves 35\n\n50. Duty to keep feeding records 35\n\n51. Duty to retain feeding records 36\n\n52. Duty to produce records relating to journey 36\n\n53. False or misleading information given to persons required to keep bobby calf feeding records 37\n\nDivision 6 — Special provisions for sheep\n\n54. Use of dogs with sheep 37\n\nPart 4 — Provisions for saleyards and depots\n\nDivision 1 — Requirements for saleyards and depots\n\n55. General requirements for saleyards and depots 38\n\nDivision 2 — Welfare of livestock at saleyards and depots\n\n56. Reasonable penning density not to be exceeded 39\n\n57. Duty to segregate livestock at saleyards and depots 40\n\n58. Reasonable access to water and feed after unloading at saleyards and depots 41\n\n59. Duty to protect livestock against extreme weather conditions at saleyards and depots 41\n\n60. Newborn livestock and their mothers 41\n\n61. Duty to assess welfare of livestock at saleyards and depots 42\n\n62. Livestock suffering severe distress, disease or injury 42\n\n63. Livestock unfit for sale 43\n\n64. Dogs at saleyards and depots 43\n\n65. Humane destruction procedure for saleyards 44\n\n66. Saleyards to have person available to carry out humane destruction of livestock 44\n\nDivision 3 — Special provisions for bobby calves at saleyards and depots\n\n67. Pen requirements for bobby calves 45\n\n68. Presentation of bobby calves for sale 45\n\nPart 5 — Defences\n\n69. Defence for persons responsible for livestock animal 46\n\n70. Defence for acts authorised under written law 47\n\nSchedule 1 — Maximum time off water and minimum spell periods\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 50\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\nAnimal Welfare Act 2002\n\nAnimal Welfare (Transport, Saleyards and Depots) (Cattle and Sheep) Regulations 2020\n\n## Part 1 — Preliminary\n\n##### 1. Citation\n\n\t\tThese regulations are the *Animal Welfare (Transport, Saleyards and Depots) (Cattle and Sheep) Regulations 2020*.\n\n##### 2. Commencement\n\nThese regulations come into operation as follows —\n\n(a) Part 1 — on the day on which these regulations are published in the *Gazette*;\n\n(b) the rest of the regulations — on the day after that day.\n\n##### 3. Terms used\n\nIn these regulations —\n\nappropriate arrangements, in relation to a livestock animal, means 1 or more of the following arrangements, depending on the condition of the animal —\n\n(a) separating the livestock animal from any other livestock animal and resting it until it has recovered;\n\n(b) treating the livestock animal as appropriate to its condition;\n\n(c) destroying the livestock animal using a method of humane destruction;\n\nassemble, in relation to livestock —\n\n(a) means the process of bringing livestock together in a place such as a yard, shed or pen before loading; and\n\n(b) includes mustering, capturing, handling, restraining and any procedure used to prepare livestock for transport;\n\nbobby calf means cattle that —\n\n(a) is under 30 days of age; and\n\n(b) is not accompanied by its mother; and\n\n(c) weighs less than 80 kg live weight;\n\ncattle —\n\n(a) means an animal of the genus *Bos*; and\n\n(b) includes any hybrid of that genus;\n\nclass, in relation to livestock, means livestock by reference to any of the following —\n\n(a) age;\n\n(b) sex;\n\n(c) size;\n\n(d) whether it is lactating and with an unweaned calf or lamb;\n\n(e) whether it is lactating but without an unweaned calf or lamb;\n\ncold stress has the meaning given in regulation 15(2);\n\nconsignor, in relation to a livestock animal, means a person who consigned the livestock animal to undertake a journey;\n\ndepot —\n\n(a) means —\n\n(i) a facility or yard where livestock are rested between journeys; or\n\n(ii) a holding facility where livestock are delivered from farms for assembly before a journey;\n\nbut\n\n(b) does not include premises that are registered or approved premises (as defined in the publication titled “Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (Version 2.3) 2011” published by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, April 2011, as amended from time to time) when the premises are being used to hold or assemble livestock for the purpose of export;\n\nemaciated, in relation to a livestock animal, means —\n\n(a) in the case of cattle, other than a dairy cow — the livestock animal has a body condition score of 1 or less as described in the publication titled “A National Guide to Describing and Managing Beef Cattle in Low Body Condition” published by Meat & Livestock Australia Limited, 2013, as amended from time to time; and\n\n(b) in the case of a dairy cow — the livestock animal has a body condition score of less than 3 as described in the publication titled “Cow Body Condition Scoring Handbook” published by Dairy Australia, 2013, as amended from time to time; and\n\n(c) in the case of sheep — the livestock animal has a body condition score for sheep of 1.5 or less as described and published on the Department’s website;\n\nextreme weather conditions means temperature or climatic conditions that individually or in combination are likely to predispose livestock to heat stress or cold stress;\n\nheat stress has the meaning given in regulation 15(1);\n\njourney has the meaning given in regulation 5(1);\n\njourney time has the meaning given in regulation 5(2);\n\nlift, in relation to a livestock animal, means to raise the entire weight of the livestock animal off the ground;\n\nliquid feed means whole milk or whole milk replacer appropriate for feeding unweaned calves;\n\nlivestock means —\n\n(a) cattle; or\n\n(b) sheep;\n\nlivestock animal means an individual animal of a kind referred to in the definition of ***livestock***;\n\nlivestock handling facility —\n\n(a) means a yard, raceway, ramp, crush, building, enclosure, saleyard, depot, lairage or other facility, (whether portable or fixed) used for, or in connection with, holding livestock —\n\n(i) before they are loaded; or\n\n(ii) during loading; or\n\n(iii) during unloading; or\n\n(iv) after they are unloaded;\n\nbut\n\n(b) does not include a paddock or laneway with conventional wire fencing;\n\nlivestock transporter means —\n\n(a) a driver of a vehicle transporting livestock undertaking a journey by road; or\n\n(b) a rail operator transporting livestock undertaking a journey by rail;\n\nload, in relation to a livestock animal, means —\n\n(a) to move the livestock animal onto a vehicle for the purpose of transport; and\n\n(b) includes a vehicle‑to‑vehicle transfer of the livestock animal;\n\nmaximum time off water has the meaning given in regulation 12(3);\n\nmethod of humane destruction, in relation to a livestock animal, has the meaning given in regulation 14;\n\nminimum spell period has the meaning given in regulation 13(3);\n\nnature of a journey includes the following —\n\n(a) the duration of the journey;\n\n(b) the distance of the journey;\n\n(c) the route of the journey;\n\n(d) the weather conditions during the journey;\n\n(e) the terrain during the journey;\n\n(f) in the case of a journey by road —\n\n(i) the road conditions; and\n\n(ii) the traffic conditions;\n\n(g) any other factor that may affect the journey for livestock;\n\noperator, in relation to a saleyard, depot or other livestock handling facility, means a person who is —\n\n(a) responsible for the operation of the saleyard, depot or other livestock handling facility; or\n\n(b) the proprietor of the business, or a person concerned in the management of the business, who owns, uses or manages or controls the saleyard, depot or other livestock handling facility;\n\npen means a stall or any other kind of enclosure for confining livestock as individuals or groups;\n\nperson responsible, in relation to a livestock animal, has the meaning given in regulation 6;\n\nprescribed condition, in relation to a livestock animal, has the meaning given in regulation 11(2);\n\nprescribed service method, in relation to giving a document to a person under these regulations, means any of the following —\n\n(a) personal service of the document on the person;\n\n(b) delivery of the document to an electronic address nominated by the person;\n\n(c) a service method approved by the CEO for the purposes of this definition and published on the Department’s website;\n\n(d) a service method approved in writing by an inspector;\n\nrail operator, in relation to a livestock animal undertaking a journey by rail, means a person who undertakes to be responsible, or is responsible, for —\n\n(a) the transport of the livestock animal by rail; or\n\n(b) the condition of a unit of rolling stock transporting the livestock animal;\n\nreasonable access to feed has the meaning given in regulation 7;\n\nreasonable access to water has the meaning given in regulation 8;\n\nrisk to the welfare of livestock means the potential for the welfare of livestock to be affected in a way that causes pain, injury or distress to the livestock;\n\nsale includes offer for sale, make available for purchase, barter, exchange or give away;\n\nsaleyard —\n\n(a) means any premises with permanent livestock delivery, holding and selling facilities that are used, or established for use, primarily for gathering livestock for exchange of ownership; but\n\n(b) does not include premises used for on‑farm livestock sales or a market without permanent livestock handling facilities;\n\nselection, in relation to a livestock animal, means —\n\n(a) the process of assessing the livestock animal to determine whether it is unfit to undertake a journey; and\n\n(b) any action taken during the assessment of the livestock animal to present it for loading and transport;\n\nsheep —\n\n(a) means an animal of the genus *Ovis*; and\n\n(b) includes any hybrid of that genus;\n\nspell has the meaning given in regulation 13(1);\n\ntime off water has the meaning given in regulation 12;\n\ntransport, in relation to a livestock animal, means to move the livestock animal from one place to another by means of a vehicle by road or rail;\n\ntransport process has the meaning given in regulation 4;\n\nunload, in relation to a livestock animal, means to move livestock off a vehicle.\n\n##### 4. Transport process\n\n(1) A transport process is the entire process of moving a livestock animal from one place to another by means of a vehicle by road or rail.\n\n(2) The transport process is taken to commence from when the livestock animal is being assembled.\n\n(3) Until a transport process is taken to end under subregulation (4), the process includes the following stages —\n\n(a) assembling the livestock animal;\n\n(b) holding the livestock animal at a saleyard, depot or other livestock handling facility before loading;\n\n(c) selecting the livestock animal;\n\n(d) loading the livestock animal;\n\n(e) holding the livestock animal on a vehicle while the vehicle is stationery;\n\n(f) transporting the livestock animal;\n\n(g) unloading the livestock animal;\n\n(h) a spell;\n\n(i) holding the livestock animal at a saleyard, depot, or any other livestock handling facility after unloading.\n\n(4) The transport process is taken to end when whichever of the following happens first —\n\n(a) the livestock animal has reasonable access to water and reasonable access to feed at its final destination (such as a farm or a feedlot);\n\n(b) the livestock animal is slaughtered.\n\n##### 5. Journey and journey times\n\n(1) A journey is the following —\n\n(a) loading livestock onto a vehicle for the purposes of transporting the livestock;\n\n(b) transporting the livestock on the vehicle;\n\n(c) unloading the livestock from the vehicle at a destination.\n\n(2) The journey time for livestock is the period that —\n\n(a) commences when the livestock undertaking a journey are loaded onto the vehicle, whether in this State or elsewhere; and\n\n(b) ends when all of the livestock undertaking the journey have been unloaded from the vehicle at a destination, whether in this State or elsewhere.\n\n##### 6. Persons responsible\n\n(1) A person is the person responsible for a livestock animal if the person is any of the following —\n\n(a) the owner of the livestock animal;\n\n(b) an agent of the owner of the livestock animal who is involved in the buying or selling of the livestock;\n\n(c) a person who has actual physical custody or control of the livestock animal;\n\n(d) a person who is handling the livestock animal;\n\n(e) if a person referred to in paragraph (c) or (d) is a member of staff of another person — that other person.\n\n(2) Without limiting subregulation (1), a person is also a person responsible for a livestock animal if the person is any of the following —\n\n(a) if the livestock animal is, or is being, assembled or is at a livestock handling facility before loading for a journey — a consignor of the livestock animal;\n\n(b) if the livestock animal is undertaking a journey by road —\n\n(i) the driver of the vehicle; and\n\n(ii) the proprietor of the business, or a person concerned in the management of the business, that owns, uses or manages or controls the use of the vehicle;\n\n(c) if the livestock animal is undertaking a journey by rail — the rail operator transporting the livestock animal;\n\n(d) if the livestock animal is at a saleyard, depot or other livestock handling facility —\n\n(i) the operator of the saleyard, depot or other livestock handling facility; and\n\n(ii) a person who is handling the livestock animal and employed by, or working for, the operator of the saleyard, depot or other livestock handling facility;\n\n(e) if the livestock animal is unloaded at a destination (including a saleyard, depot or any other livestock handling facility) —\n\n(i) a person who receives the livestock animal at the destination; and\n\n(ii) the operator of the saleyard, depot or other livestock handling facility (as is relevant); and\n\n(iii) a person who is handling the livestock animal and employed by, or working for, the operator of the saleyard, depot or other livestock handling facility (as is relevant).\n\n##### 7. Reasonable access to feed\n\nA livestock animal has reasonable access to feed if it has access to feed of a suitable quality and quantity, appropriate for its species and class, sufficient to maintain its health and wellbeing.\n\n##### 8. Reasonable access to water\n\nA livestock animal has reasonable access to water if it has access to water of a suitable quality and quantity, appropriate for its species and class —\n\n(a) sufficient to maintain its hydration; and\n\n(b) for a continuous period of at least 4 hours.\n\n##### 9. Unfit to undertake a journey\n\n(1) A livestock animal is unfit to undertake a journey if any of the following apply to the animal —\n\n(a) it is unable to walk independently by bearing weight on all hooves;\n\n(b) it is pregnant, unless —\n\n(i) in the case of cattle — it is known to be, or visually assessed to be, less than 37 weeks pregnant; and\n\n(ii) in the case of sheep — it is known to be, or visually assessed to be, less than 19 weeks pregnant;\n\n(c) it is emaciated;\n\n(d) it is visibly dehydrated;\n\n(e) it shows visible signs of severe injury or distress;\n\n(f) it is blind in both eyes;\n\n(g) it has a prescribed condition;\n\n(h) it has any other condition, injury or disease that is likely to result in an increase in pain or distress to the livestock animal during transport.\n\n(2) Subregulation (1)(b) does not apply if —\n\n(a) the livestock animal is being transported directly between 2 places, but not to an abattoir or saleyard; and\n\n(b) the estimated journey time and time off water is likely to be less than 4 hours.\n\n##### 10. Unfit for sale\n\nA livestock animal is unfit for sale if any of the following apply to the animal —\n\n(a) it is unable to walk independently by bearing weight on all hooves;\n\n(b) it is emaciated;\n\n(c) it is visibly dehydrated;\n\n(d) it shows visible signs of severe injury or distress;\n\n(e) it is blind in both eyes;\n\n(f) it has a prescribed condition;\n\n(g) it has any other condition, injury or disease that is likely to result in an increase in pain or distress to the livestock animal during transport.\n\n##### 11. Prescribed conditions\n\n(1) In this regulation —\n\nbroken horn means a horn or pedicle with an injury that is bleeding or discharging;\n\ningrown horn means a horn (other than its base) of a livestock animal that has penetrated, or is in contact with —\n\n(a) any part of the livestock animal’s eyelid or eye; or\n\n(b) any other part of the livestock animal’s body;\n\nlesion includes the following —\n\n(a) a wound;\n\n(b) an ulcer;\n\n(c) an abscess;\n\n(d) a sore;\n\nneurological dysfunction means an abnormality of the central nervous system which may include the following symptoms —\n\n(a) staggering;\n\n(b) stargazing;\n\n(c) convulsions;\n\n(d) paralysis.\n\n(2) Each of the following is a prescribed condition —\n\n(a) a broken horn or ingrown horn;\n\n(b) a broken leg;\n\n(c) a dropped udder or an engorged udder;\n\n(d) flystrike (myiasis);\n\n(e) a lesion of the pizzle (prepuce), penis, sheath or scrotum;\n\n(f) neurological dysfunction;\n\n(g) a tumour that is more than 3 cm in length in any direction;\n\n(h) an umbilical, abdominal, inguinal or scrotal hernia;\n\n(i) uterine, vaginal or rectal prolapse;\n\n(j) a visible lesion that —\n\n(i) is discharging; and\n\n(ii) is more than 3 cm in length in any direction.\n\n##### 12. Calculating time off water and maximum time off water\n\n(1) The time off water for a livestock animal undertaking a transport process is the total time period that the livestock animal does not have reasonable access to water calculated in accordance with subregulation (2).\n\n(2) The livestock animal’s total period of time off water —\n\n(a) is taken to commence from when the livestock animal last had reasonable access to water before undertaking the transport process, whether in this State or elsewhere; and\n\n(b) until it is taken to end under paragraph (c), is taken to pause at the start of, and resume at the end of, any period of not more than 24 hours during which the livestock animal has reasonable access to water, whether in this State or elsewhere; and\n\n(c) is taken to end when whichever of the following comes first —\n\n(i) the livestock animal is given a spell for at least the minimum spell period for the livestock;\n\n(ii) the livestock animal has reasonable access to water and reasonable access to feed at its final destination (such as a farm or feedlot); or\n\n(iii) the livestock animal is slaughtered.\n\n(3) The maximum time off water for a livestock animal of a species and class specified in Column 2 of an item of Schedule 1 is the number of hours specified in Column 3 of the item.\n\n##### 13. Calculating length of spell and minimum spell periods\n\n(1) A livestock animal is given a spell if all of the following is done in relation to the livestock animal —\n\n(a) it is unloaded;\n\n(b) it is provided with reasonable access to water;\n\n(c) it is provided with reasonable access to feed;\n\n(d) it is provided with sufficient space to lie down;\n\n(e) it is not subject to handling other than that which is reasonably necessary.\n\n(2) A spell —\n\n(a) is taken to commence when all of the livestock on the vehicle on which the livestock animal is loaded have been unloaded; and\n\n(b) is taken to end when the livestock commence to be reloaded.\n\n(3) The minimum spell period for a livestock animal of a species and class specified in Column 2 of an item of Schedule 1 is the number of continuous hours specified in Column 4 of the item.\n\n##### 14. Method of humane destruction\n\n(1) A method used to destroy a livestock animal is a method of humane destruction if, subject to subregulations (2) and (3), the method causes rapid unconsciousness and then the livestock animal’s death while it is unconscious.\n\n(2) If the method used to destroy the livestock animal is the cutting of the major blood vessels in the neck, the method is not a method of humane destruction unless —\n\n(a) the livestock animal is a sheep; and\n\n(b) the livestock animal is not at a saleyard or depot; and\n\n(c) a firearm or captive bolt is not reasonably available for use to destroy the livestock animal.\n\n(3) If the method used to destroy the livestock animal is a blow to its head, the method is not a method of humane destruction unless —\n\n(a) it is a single blow to the forehead (other than from a projectile from a firearm or captive bolt) that causes immediate loss of consciousness to the livestock animal; and\n\n(b) the livestock animal is under 24 hours of age; and\n\n(c) the livestock animal is not at a saleyard.\n\n##### 15. Heat stress and cold stress\n\n(1) Heat stress occurs when the response by a livestock animal to hot conditions above its thermo‑neutral zone exceeds the ability of its behavioural, physiological or psychological coping mechanisms.\n\n(2) Cold stress occurs when the response by a livestock animal to cold conditions below its thermo‑neutral zone depletes its behavioural, physiological or psychological coping mechanisms.\n\n(3) For the purposes of this regulation, the thermo‑neutral zone of a livestock animal is the range of environmental temperatures over which —\n\n(a) the heat produced by the livestock animal remains fairly constant; and\n\n(b) the livestock animal does not have to generate extra heat to keep warm (such as shivering or huddling) nor expend energy on cooling mechanisms (such as panting).\n\n## Part 2 — General welfare provisions\n\n##### 16. Application of Part\n\nThis Part applies to a livestock animal —\n\n(a) undertaking a transport process; or\n\n(b) at a saleyard or depot (whether or not the livestock animal is undertaking a transport process).\n\n##### 17. General mishandling and mistreatment of livestock\n\n(1) In this regulation —\n\nmistreat, in relation to a livestock animal, means to do any of the following to the livestock animal —\n\n(a) kick it;\n\n(b) punch it;\n\n(c) throw it;\n\n(d) force, prod, push or excessively handle it when it has no room to move;\n\n(e) strike it unreasonably;\n\n(f) drop it, unless it is in a manner that it can reasonably land safely on its feet.\n\n(2) A person handling a livestock animal must handle the livestock animal —\n\n(a) in a manner that is appropriate to the species and class of the livestock animal being handled; and\n\n(b) in a way that minimises pain, injury, fear and distress to the livestock animal.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(3) A person must not mistreat a livestock animal.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 18. Dragging livestock\n\n(1) A person must not drag a livestock animal only by 1 or more of the following —\n\n(a) its head;\n\n(b) 1 or both its horns;\n\n(c) 1 or both its ears;\n\n(d) its neck;\n\n(e) its tail;\n\n(f) its wool or hair.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(2) It is a defence to a charge under subregulation (1) for a person to prove that —\n\n(a) it was necessary in an emergency for the person to drag the livestock animal only by 1 or more body parts referred to in subregulation (1) for the purposes of safe handling, lifting, treating or destroying the animal; and\n\n(b) the distance the person dragged the livestock animal was the minimum distance necessary in the circumstances.\n\n(3) A person must not drag a livestock animal unless the livestock animal is able to stand.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(4) It is a defence to a charge under subregulation (3) for a person to prove that —\n\n(a) it was necessary in an emergency for the person to drag the livestock animal for the purposes of safe handling, lifting, treating or destroying the animal; and\n\n(b) the distance the person dragged the livestock animal was the minimum distance necessary in the circumstances.\n\n##### 19. Lifting livestock\n\n(1) A person must not lift a livestock animal only by 1 or more of the following —\n\n(a) its head;\n\n(b) 1 or both its horns;\n\n(c) 1 or both its ears;\n\n(d) its neck;\n\n(e) its tail;\n\n(f) its wool or hair.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(2) A person must not lift a livestock animal only by a single leg.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(3) A person must not lift a livestock animal by means of a mechanical device unless the animal is supported by, or secured to, the mechanical device in an appropriate manner.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 20. Use of electric stock prod\n\nA person must not use an electric stock prod on a livestock animal —\n\n(a) if the livestock animal is under 3 months of age; or\n\n(b) if the livestock animal is unable to move away; or\n\n(c) by applying it to the livestock animal’s face, udder, anus or genitals; or\n\n(d) more than is reasonably necessary in the circumstances; or\n\n(e) for a purpose other than handling the livestock animal in the transport process or at a saleyard or depot.\n\nPenalty: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 21. Use of dogs generally\n\n(1) A person must not use a dog to assist in the control or movement of a livestock animal unless the dog is under the person’s control at all times.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1), a dog is taken to be under the person’s control if it is fully responsive to the commands of the person.\n\n##### 22. Duty to spell livestock\n\n(1) A person responsible for a livestock animal must ensure that it is given a spell for at least the minimum spell period for the livestock animal at such times as are reasonably necessary in order to minimise the risk to the welfare of the livestock animal.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(2) In complying with subregulation (1), the person must have regard to the following factors as is relevant in the case —\n\n(a) the estimated journey time of the journey that the livestock animal is undertaking, and in particular whether the estimated journey time will be close to or more than the maximum time off water for the livestock animal;\n\n(b) whether the livestock animal is fit to undertake the remainder of the intended journey;\n\n(c) the general health of the livestock animal;\n\n(d) the actual, and predicted, weather conditions for the journey that the livestock animal is undertaking;\n\n(e) the species and class of the livestock animal, and in particular whether the livestock animal is weak, immature, pregnant, has recently given birth or is lactating;\n\n(f) the nature of the journey that the livestock animal is undertaking.\n\n(3) A person responsible for a livestock animal must, before the livestock animal’s time off water reaches the maximum time off water for the livestock animal, ensure that it is given a spell for at least the minimum spell period for the livestock animal.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(4) Subregulation (3) does not limit the operation of subregulation (1).\n\n##### 23. Humane destruction of livestock\n\n(1) A person who destroys a livestock animal must —\n\n(a) use a method of humane destruction to destroy the livestock animal; and\n\n(b) be —\n\n(i) a competent person; or\n\n(ii) acting under the direct supervision of a competent person.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1) —\n\n(a) a person is a competent person if the person has the knowledge, skills and experience to destroy livestock of the same species and class as the animal being destroyed using the method by which it is being destroyed; and\n\n(b) a person (the supervised person) is acting under the direct supervision of another person (the supervisor) if the supervisor —\n\n(i) provides instruction and guidance to the supervised person in relation to the destruction of the animal; and\n\n(ii) oversees and evaluates the destruction of the animal; and\n\n(iii) is on the same premises as the supervised person while the animal is being destroyed; and\n\n(iv) is able to immediately render assistance to the supervised person, if required, at any time during the destruction of the animal.\n\n(3) A person must, after destroying or attempting to destroy a livestock animal, ensure the livestock animal is dead by observing 3 or more of the following signs —\n\n(a) the livestock animal has lost consciousness and there is no deliberate movement;\n\n(b) there are no rhythmic respiratory movements for at least 5 minutes;\n\n(c) there is no corneal blink reflex when an eyeball is touched;\n\n(d) the pupils are at maximum dilation and do not respond to light;\n\n(e) there is no heartbeat.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n## Part 3 — Provisions for the transport process\n\n### Division 1 — General duties\n\n##### 24. Records relating to journeys\n\n(1) A livestock transporter must keep a record of the following in respect of each journey —\n\n(a) the date and time the livestock were loaded for the journey, whether in this State or elsewhere;\n\n(b) the date and time the livestock last had reasonable access to water before the commencement of the journey, whether in this State or elsewhere;\n\n(c) the date, time of commencement and length of any spell given to the livestock, whether in this State or elsewhere;\n\n(d) the date and time of inspections of the livestock undertaken in accordance with regulation 40;\n\n(e) the details of any concerns for the welfare of the livestock identified by the livestock transporter, including the date and time the concerns were identified and the details of any action taken, whether in this State or elsewhere;\n\n(f) the contact details of a person who must be notified in the case of an emergency in respect of the livestock.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(2) Subregulation (1) does not apply if the livestock transporter reasonably expects that the journey time will be less than 24 hours.\n\n(3) A livestock transporter who transfers responsibility for the livestock to another person during or on completion of the journey, must give to that person, by a prescribed service method, a copy of —\n\n(a) any record kept by the livestock transporter under subregulation (1) in respect of the journey; and\n\n(b) in the case of a journey commenced outside this State — any record relating to the transportation of the livestock that has been kept by, or given to, the person under a law of another State or a Territory that corresponds to subregulation (1).\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(4) A person who is given a copy of a record under subregulation (3) must, when the person transfers responsibility for the livestock to another person during or on completion of the journey, give a copy of the record to that person by a prescribed service method.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(5) For the purposes of this regulation, a record may be kept in electronic form.\n\n##### 25. Duty to retain records relating to journey\n\n(1) A livestock transporter who keeps a record under regulation 24(1) must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to retain the record for 2 years after the day on which the journey is completed.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(2) A person who is given a copy of a record under regulation 24(3) or (4) must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to retain the copy of the record for 2 years after the day on which it is given.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(3) For the purposes of this regulation, a record may be retained in electronic form.\n\n##### 26. Duty to produce records relating to journey\n\n(1) An inspector may direct a person who is required to keep a record under regulation 24(1), or is given a copy of a record under regulation 24(3) or (4), to produce the record or copy to the inspector at any reasonable time.\n\n(2) A person must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with a direction given under subregulation (1).\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n##### 27. False or misleading information given to livestock transporters for purposes of journey records\n\n(1) In this regulation —\n\njourney record means a record required to be kept under regulation 24(1).\n\n(2) A person must not, in relation to a journey record, give to a livestock transporter information that the person knows is false or misleading in a material particular.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 28. Duty to advise of arrival at destination\n\nA livestock transporter must not, without reasonable excuse, on arrival of the livestock at a destination, fail to notify a person receiving the livestock at the destination that the livestock have arrived at the destination.\n\nPenalty: a fine of $7 500.\n\n### Division 2 — General provisions for vehicles, loading and unloading\n\n##### 29. Suitability of vehicles for transporting livestock\n\n(1) A person responsible for livestock animals undertaking a journey by road or by rail must ensure that the vehicle being used to transport the livestock provides suitable conditions for the livestock.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1), a vehicle provides suitable conditions for the livestock it is being used to transport if —\n\n(a) it has effective airflow that is appropriate for the species and class of livestock being transported; and\n\n(b) it has a surface or flooring that minimises the risk of injury to livestock from slipping or falling; and\n\n(c) it is free from internal protrusions and objects that may cause injury to the livestock; and\n\n(d) it has sufficient vertical clearance so as to minimise the risk of injury to the livestock; and\n\n(e) it is otherwise suitable for the species and class of livestock being transported.\n\n##### 30. Loading and unloading livestock\n\n(1) A livestock transporter must ensure that any ramp used to load or unload the livestock during the journey —\n\n(a) is aligned correctly with the vehicle being used to transport the livestock; and\n\n(b) is positioned so that the gap between the vehicle and the ramp is sufficiently narrow so as to minimise the risk of injury to the livestock.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(2) A livestock transporter must, before moving the vehicle being used to transport the livestock, ensure that each pen holding the livestock on the vehicle, and each door enclosing the livestock on the vehicle, is closed and secured.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(3) A livestock transporter must not unload the livestock, or cause the livestock to be unloaded, at a livestock handling facility unless the livestock handling facility is able to reasonably hold the number of livestock animals to be unloaded.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n### Division 3 — General requirements for livestock handling facilities (other than saleyards and depots)\n\n##### 31. Suitability of livestock handling facilities (other than saleyards and depots)\n\n(1) An operator of a livestock handling facility (other than a saleyard or depot) being used to hold, load or unload livestock undertaking a transport process must ensure that the facility has suitable conditions for the livestock.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1), a livestock handling facility provides suitable conditions for the livestock it is being used to hold, load or unload if —\n\n(a) it has effective airflow that is appropriate for the species and class of livestock using the facility; and\n\n(b) it has a surface or flooring that minimises the risk of injury to the livestock from slipping or falling; and\n\n(c) it is free from internal protrusions and objects that may cause injury to the livestock; and\n\n(d) it has sufficient vertical clearance so as to minimise the risk of injury to the livestock; and\n\n(e) it is otherwise suitable for the species and class of livestock using the facility.\n\n### Division 4 — Welfare of livestock during transport process\n\n##### 32. Selection and supply of livestock for transport\n\n(1) A consignor of a livestock animal that has been assembled before a journey must ensure that the livestock animal is assessed, before it is supplied for transport, to determine whether it is unfit to undertake a journey.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(2) A consignor must not supply for transport a livestock animal that is unfit to undertake a journey unless a veterinarian has advised that the livestock animal can undertake the journey.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n[Regulation 32 amended: SL 2022/98 r. 10.]\n\n##### 33. Loading livestock unfit to undertake a journey\n\n(1) A person who will be the livestock transporter of a livestock animal that is about to undertake a journey must ensure that the livestock animal is assessed, immediately before it is loaded, to determine whether it is unfit to undertake a journey.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(2) A person must not load a livestock animal, or cause a livestock animal to be loaded, if the livestock animal is unfit to undertake a journey.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(3) It is a defence to a charge under subregulation (2) for a person to prove that —\n\n(a) a veterinarian advised that the livestock animal could undertake the journey; and\n\n(b) the livestock animal was loaded and transported in accordance with that veterinarian’s advice.\n\n(4) In the case of a charge under subregulation (2) against a livestock transporter, it is a defence to the charge for a person to prove that the livestock transporter took all reasonable steps to ensure that the livestock animal was assessed, immediately before it was loaded, to determine whether it was unfit to undertake a journey.\n\n[Regulation 33 amended: SL 2020/234 r. 4; SL 2022/98 r. 11.]\n\n##### 34. Duty to make appropriate arrangements for livestock\n\n(1) This regulation applies if, before loading, a livestock animal is determined under regulation 32(1) or 33(1) to be unfit to undertake a journey.\n\n(2) A consignor of the livestock animal must ensure that appropriate arrangements are made for the livestock animal at the first reasonable opportunity.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 35. Transporting livestock unfit to undertake journey if loaded outside WA\n\n(1) A person must not transport a livestock animal loaded outside this State if the livestock animal is unfit to undertake a journey.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(2) It is a defence to a charge under subregulation (1) for a person to prove that the livestock animal was not unfit to undertake the journey at the time it was loaded outside this State.\n\n(3) It is a defence to a charge under subregulation (1) for a person to prove that —\n\n(a) a veterinarian, or an equivalent person under a corresponding law as defined in the *Veterinary Practice Act 2021* section 3, advised that the livestock animal could undertake the journey; and\n\n(b) the livestock animal was loaded and transported in accordance with that veterinarian’s, or equivalent person’s, advice.\n\n[Regulation 35 amended: SL 2022/98 r. 12.]\n\n##### 36. Reasonable loading density not to be exceeded\n\n(1) In this regulation —\n\ncrate —\n\n(a) means any structure on or attached to a vehicle used for transporting livestock, other than a pen; and\n\n(b) includes a trailer;\n\nreasonable loading density, for livestock being transported on a vehicle (including in any crate or pen on the vehicle), means the number of livestock animals that can reasonably be transported on the vehicle so as to minimise the risk to the welfare of livestock, having regard to the following factors —\n\n(a) the species and class of the livestock;\n\n(b) the size and body condition of the livestock;\n\n(c) the average live weight of the livestock being transported on the vehicle;\n\n(d) the wool or hair length of the livestock;\n\n(e) whether any of the livestock have horns and, if so, the risk the horns may pose to other livestock;\n\n(f) the weather conditions predicted for the journey;\n\n(g) the nature of the journey;\n\n(h) the type, design and capacity of the vehicle.\n\n(2) A livestock transporter must ensure that the number of livestock animals being transported on the vehicle being used to transport the livestock (including in any crate or pen on the vehicle) does not exceed the reasonable loading density.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n##### 37. Duty to protect livestock against extreme weather conditions during transport process\n\nA person responsible for a livestock animal undertaking a transport process must take reasonable steps to minimise the impact of extreme weather conditions on the livestock animal.\n\nPenalty: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 38. Duty to segregate livestock on vehicle\n\n(1) A livestock transporter must, if it is reasonably necessary in the circumstances to segregate the livestock on the vehicle in order to minimise the risk to the welfare of the livestock, ensure that they are segregated by sufficient internal partitions so as to minimise the risk to the welfare of the livestock.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(2) In complying with subregulation (1), the livestock transporter must have regard to the following factors —\n\n(a) the species and class of the livestock;\n\n(b) the size and body condition of the livestock;\n\n(c) the general health of the livestock;\n\n(d) whether any particular livestock animal is aggressive and, if so, the extent of the aggression;\n\n(e) the nature of the journey;\n\n(f) the type, design and capacity of the vehicle.\n\n##### 39. Dogs on vehicles\n\nA livestock transporter must ensure that a dog is not transported in the same pen on the vehicle as the livestock unless the dog lives with, and is accepted within, the livestock on a permanent basis.\n\nPenalty: a fine of $7 500.\n\n##### 40. Duty to assess welfare of livestock during journey\n\n(1) In this regulation —\n\ndriver rest stop means a period when —\n\n(a) a vehicle stops for the purpose of the driver having a rest; and\n\n(b) livestock remain on the vehicle without access to water or access to feed.\n\n(2) A livestock transporter must ensure that the livestock are assessed to determine whether any of the livestock appear to be weak, injured, ill or distressed at the following times —\n\n(a) on the vehicle before departure;\n\n(b) within the first hour of the journey and then at least every 3 hours or at every driver rest stop, whichever comes first;\n\n(c) at each driver or vehicle change over stop;\n\n(d) at unloading.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(3) If a livestock animal is determined under subregulation (2) to appear to be weak, injured, ill or distressed, the livestock transporter must ensure that at the first reasonable opportunity —\n\n(a) appropriate arrangements are made for the livestock animal; and\n\n(b) the livestock animal is identified to a person receiving it and that person is advised that it appears to be weak, injured, ill or distressed.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(4) Subregulation (3)(b) does not apply if the livestock animal is destroyed before the person receives it.\n\n##### 41. Weak, injured, ill or distressed livestock unloaded at destination\n\n(1) This regulation applies if a livestock animal undertaking a transport process is unloaded at a destination and either of the following occurs —\n\n(a) a person receiving the livestock animal at the destination is advised under regulation 40(3) that the livestock animal appears to be weak, injured, ill or distressed;\n\n(b) the livestock animal appears to be weak, injured, ill or distressed.\n\n(2) A person responsible for the livestock animal at the destination must ensure appropriate arrangements are made for the livestock animal at the first reasonable opportunity.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 42. Moribund livestock\n\n(1) A person responsible for a livestock animal undertaking a transport process must, if the livestock animal is moribund, ensure that it is destroyed at the first reasonable opportunity using a method of humane destruction.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1), a livestock animal is moribund if —\n\n(a) it is unable to stand and exhibits signs of distress or insensibility; and\n\n(b) it appears to have little chance of regaining the capacity to stand and walk unassisted after reasonable attempts have been made to assist the livestock animal.\n\n##### 43. Reasonable access to water after unloading at livestock handling facility (other than saleyard or depot)\n\n(1) This regulation applies if —\n\n(a) a livestock animal arrives at a livestock handling facility (other than a saleyard or depot); and\n\n(b) a person responsible for the livestock animal at the livestock handling facility is not given a record indicating the last time the livestock animal had reasonable access to water.\n\n(2) A person responsible for the livestock animal at the livestock handling facility must ensure that the livestock animal is provided reasonable access to water within 24 hours of the livestock animal arriving at the livestock handling facility.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(3) This regulation does not limit the operation of regulation 22(1) or (3).\n\n### Division 5 — Special provisions for bobby calves\n\n##### 44. Bobby calves under 5 days of age\n\nA person responsible for a bobby calf that is under 5 days of age must not transport the bobby calf, or cause it to be transported, unless all of the following applies in relation to the calf —\n\n(a) it is being taken directly to a bobby calf‑rearing facility;\n\n(b) within 6 hours before being loaded, it has been fed sufficient liquid feed to maintain its health and wellbeing;\n\n(c) it is provided with sufficient bedding to protect the bobby calf from the floor of the crate during the journey;\n\n(d) it is provided with sufficient space to lie down on its sternum at any time during the journey;\n\n(e) the journey time is less than 6 hours.\n\nPenalty: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 45. Bobby calves over 5 days of age\n\nA person responsible for a bobby calf that has reached 5 days of age must not transport the bobby calf, or cause it to be transported, unless all of the following applies in relation to the calf —\n\n(a) within 6 hours before being loaded, it has been fed sufficient liquid feed to maintain its health and wellbeing;\n\n(b) it is provided with sufficient space to lie down on its sternum at any time during the journey;\n\n(c) it is alert and strong enough to rise from a lying position unassisted;\n\n(d) the journey time is less than 12 hours.\n\nPenalty: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 46. Bobby calves consigned to saleyard for sale for slaughter\n\n(1) This regulation applies if a bobby calf that has reached 5 days of age —\n\n(a) is consigned to a saleyard or depot for sale for slaughter; and\n\n(b) is being transported to the saleyard or depot (as the case may be).\n\n(2) A person responsible for the bobby calf must ensure that the bobby calf is delivered to the place of slaughter within 18 hours of the last time it had reasonable access to feed.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 47. Premature bobby calves\n\n(1) In this regulation —\n\npremature bobby calf includes an induced bobby calf.\n\n(2) A person must not consign a premature bobby calf to undertake a transport process unless it is as fit for the journey as a full‑term calf of an equivalent age.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 48. Duty to protect bobby calves from heat and cold stress\n\nA livestock transporter of a bobby calf must take reasonable steps to ensure that the bobby calf is protected against heat stress or cold stress during the journey.\n\nPenalty: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 49. Use of dogs with bobby calves\n\nA person must not use a dog to assist in the control or movement of a bobby calf undertaking a transport process.\n\nPenalty: a fine of $7 500.\n\n##### 50. Duty to keep feeding records\n\n(1) A person responsible for a bobby calf that has reached 5 days of age undertaking a transport process must keep a record of —\n\n(a) the last time the bobby calf was fed, whether or not it was undertaking a transport process at that time; and\n\n(b) each time the bobby calf is fed during the transport process.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(2) It is a defence to a charge under subregulation (1) for a person to prove that —\n\n(a) the animal was being transported between bobby calf rearing facilities; and\n\n(b) the journey was not reasonably expected to take more than 6 hours.\n\n(3) A person who keeps a record under subregulation (1) must, when the person transfers responsibility for the bobby calf to another person during or on completion of the transport process, give a copy of the record to that person by a prescribed service method.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(4) A person who is given a copy of a record under subregulation (3) must, when the person transfers responsibility for the bobby calf to another person during or on completion of the transport process, give a copy of the record to that person by a prescribed service method.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(5) For the purposes of this regulation, a record may be kept in electronic form.\n\n##### 51. Duty to retain feeding records\n\n(1) A person who keeps a record under regulation 50(1) must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to retain the record for 2 years after the day on which it is given.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(2) A person who is given a copy of a record under regulation 50(3) or (4) must retain the copy of the record for 2 years after receiving it.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(3) For the purposes of this regulation, a record may be retained in electronic form.\n\n##### 52. Duty to produce records relating to journey\n\n(1) An inspector may direct a person who is required to keep a record under regulation 50(1), or is given a copy of a record under regulation 50(3) or (4), to produce the record or copy to the inspector at any reasonable time.\n\n(2) A person must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with a direction given under subregulation (1).\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n##### 53. False or misleading information given to persons required to keep bobby calf feeding records\n\n(1) In this regulation —\n\nbobby calf feeding record means a record required to be kept under regulation 50(1).\n\n(2) A person must not, in relation to a bobby calf feeding record, give to another person information that the person knows is false or misleading in a material particular.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n### Division 6 — Special provisions for sheep\n\n##### 54. Use of dogs with sheep\n\n(1) This regulation applies if —\n\n(a) a dog is being used to assist in the control or movement of a sheep undertaking a transport process; and\n\n(b) the dog habitually bites sheep.\n\n(2) A person responsible for the sheep must ensure that the dog is muzzled.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n## Part 4 — Provisions for saleyards and depots\n\n### Division 1 — Requirements for saleyards and depots\n\n##### 55. General requirements for saleyards and depots\n\n(1) An operator of a saleyard or depot being used to hold, load or unload livestock must ensure that the saleyard or depot provides suitable conditions for the livestock.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1), a saleyard or depot provides suitable conditions for the livestock it is being used to hold, load or unload if —\n\n(a) it has effective airflow that is appropriate for the species and class of livestock using the saleyard or depot; and\n\n(b) it has a surface or flooring that minimises the risk of injury to the livestock from slipping or falling; and\n\n(c) it is free from internal protrusions and objects that may cause injury to the livestock; and\n\n(d) it has sufficient vertical clearance so as to minimise the risk of injury to the livestock; and\n\n(e) it has suitable loading and unloading facilities for the species and class of livestock, and transport vehicles, using the saleyard or depot; and\n\n(f) it has suitable watering facilities for the species and class of livestock using the saleyard or depot; and\n\n(g) it has suitable feeding facilities to ensure that the livestock, when they are being fed at the saleyard or depot, have reasonable access to feed; and\n\n(h) it has suitable facilities so as to minimise the impact of extreme weather conditions on the livestock; and\n\n(i) it is otherwise suitable for the species and class of livestock using the saleyard or depot.\n\n### Division 2 — Welfare of livestock at saleyards and depots\n\n##### 56. Reasonable penning density not to be exceeded\n\n(1) In this regulation —\n\nreasonable penning density, for livestock held in a pen at a saleyard or depot, means the number of livestock animals that can reasonably be held in the pen in order to minimise the risk to the welfare of livestock, having regard to the following factors —\n\n(a) the species and class of the livestock;\n\n(b) the size and body condition of the livestock;\n\n(c) the wool or hair length of the livestock;\n\n(d) whether any of the livestock have horns and, if so, the risk the horns may pose to other livestock;\n\n(e) the weather conditions predicted for the period the livestock are to be held in the pen;\n\n(f) the period that the livestock are to be held in the pen;\n\n(g) the type, design and capacity of the pen;\n\nselling pen means a pen used to hold a livestock animal when it is presented for sale.\n\n(2) A person responsible for livestock animals at a saleyard or depot must ensure that the number of livestock animals held in each pen at the saleyard or depot does not exceed the reasonable penning density.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(3) A person responsible for livestock animals at a saleyard must ensure that each livestock animal held in a selling pen at the saleyard has sufficient space to —\n\n(a) stand so that it can be freely inspected; and\n\n(b) rise from a lying position unassisted.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(4) A person responsible for livestock animals at a saleyard must ensure that each livestock animal held in a pen (other than a selling pen) or a yard at the saleyard has sufficient space to —\n\n(a) move freely; and\n\n(b) lie down and rest.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(5) A person responsible for livestock animals at a depot must ensure that each livestock animal held in a pen at the depot has sufficient space to —\n\n(a) move freely; and\n\n(b) lie down and rest.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 57. Duty to segregate livestock at saleyards and depots\n\n(1) A person responsible for livestock animals at a saleyard or depot must —\n\n(a) ensure that the livestock are segregated into sufficient pens so as to minimise the risk to the welfare of livestock at the saleyard or depot; and\n\n(b) if it is reasonably necessary in the circumstances to segregate a particular livestock animal in an individual pen in order to minimise the risk to the welfare of livestock — ensure that the livestock animal is segregated into an individual pen.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(2) In complying with subregulation (1), the person must have regard to the following factors —\n\n(a) the species and class of the livestock;\n\n(b) the general health of the livestock;\n\n(c) whether any particular livestock animal is aggressive and, if so, the extent of the aggression.\n\n##### 58. Reasonable access to water and feed after unloading at saleyards and depots\n\n(1) This regulation applies if a livestock animal arrives at a saleyard or depot.\n\n(2) A person responsible for the livestock animal at the saleyard or depot must ensure that the livestock animal is provided reasonable access to water within 24 hours of the livestock animal arriving at the livestock handling facility.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(3) A person responsible for the livestock animal at the saleyard or depot must ensure that the livestock animal is provided reasonable access to feed within 48 hours of the livestock animal arriving at the saleyard or depot.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(4) This regulation does not limit the operation of regulation 22(1) or (3).\n\n##### 59. Duty to protect livestock against extreme weather conditions at saleyards and depots\n\nA person responsible for a livestock animal at a saleyard or depot must take reasonable steps to minimise the impact of extreme weather conditions on the welfare of the livestock animal.\n\nPenalty: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 60. Newborn livestock and their mothers\n\n(1) This regulation applies if —\n\n(a) a livestock animal that is born while its mother is being transported to a saleyard or depot arrives at the saleyard or depot; or\n\n(b) a livestock animal is born at a saleyard or depot.\n\n(2) A person responsible for the livestock animal at the saleyard or depot must ensure that the livestock animal and its mother are properly treated and cared for while at the saleyard or depot.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n##### 61. Duty to assess welfare of livestock at saleyards and depots\n\n(1) A person responsible for a livestock animal at a saleyard or depot must ensure that the livestock animal is assessed to determine whether it appears to be weak, injured, ill or distressed —\n\n(a) at the first reasonable opportunity after the livestock animal arrives at the saleyard or depot; and\n\n(b) each day the livestock animal is at the saleyard or depot.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(2) If a livestock animal is determined under subregulation (1) to appear to be weak, injured, ill or distressed, the person responsible for the livestock animal must ensure that appropriate arrangements are made for the livestock animal at the first reasonable opportunity.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 62. Livestock suffering severe distress, disease or injury\n\n(1) This regulation applies to a livestock animal that —\n\n(a) is at a saleyard or depot; and\n\n(b) is suffering from severe distress, disease or injury; and\n\n(c) in the circumstances, cannot be reasonably treated.\n\n(2) A person responsible for the livestock animal at the saleyard or depot must ensure that the livestock animal is destroyed at the first reasonable opportunity using a method of humane destruction.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 63. Livestock unfit for sale\n\n(1) A person responsible for a livestock animal at a saleyard must ensure that the livestock animal is assessed immediately before it is presented for sale at the saleyard to determine whether it is unfit for sale.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(2) If a livestock animal at a saleyard is determined under subregulation (1) to be unfit for sale, the person responsible for the livestock animal must ensure that appropriate arrangements are made for the livestock animal at the first reasonable opportunity.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(3) A person responsible for a livestock animal at a saleyard must ensure that the livestock animal is not sold, or presented for sale, at the saleyard if the livestock animal is unfit for sale.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 64. Dogs at saleyards and depots\n\n(1) A person responsible for a livestock animal at a saleyard or depot must ensure that any dog being used to assist in the control or movement of the livestock animal is muzzled.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(2) A person responsible for a livestock animal at a saleyard or depot must ensure that a dog is not used to assist in the control or movement of the livestock animal if the livestock animal is unable to stand.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n##### 65. Humane destruction procedure for saleyards\n\n(1) An operator of a saleyard must ensure that —\n\n(a) a written procedure is prepared that provides for the humane destruction of livestock at the saleyard (the saleyard’s humane destruction procedure); and\n\n(b) the saleyard’s humane destruction procedure is readily accessible at the saleyard by any person handling livestock at the saleyard.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(2) An inspector may direct an operator of a saleyard to produce a copy of the saleyard’s humane destruction procedure to the inspector at any reasonable time.\n\n(3) An operator of a saleyard must not, without reasonable excuse, fail to comply with a direction given under subregulation (2).\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n##### 66. Saleyards to have person available to carry out humane destruction of livestock\n\nAn operator of a saleyard must ensure that, when any livestock animal is at the saleyard, there is a person at the saleyard who —\n\n(a) has the knowledge, skills and experience to destroy livestock of the species and class that are usually held at the saleyard using a method of humane destruction; and\n\n(b) has ready access at the saleyard to suitable equipment for the destruction; and\n\n(c) is available to carry out, or directly supervise, the destruction.\n\nPenalty: a fine of $7 500.\n\n### Division 3 — Special provisions for bobby calves at saleyards and depots\n\n##### 67. Pen requirements for bobby calves\n\n(1) An operator of a saleyard being used to hold bobby calves must ensure there are a sufficient number of pens at the saleyard to accommodate the bobby calves.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n(2) An operator of a saleyard being used to hold bobby calves must ensure that each pen that is being used to hold a bobby calf at the saleyard is in a roofed area.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $7 500.\n\n##### 68. Presentation of bobby calves for sale\n\n(1) A person responsible for a bobby calf that is being held at a saleyard must ensure that the bobby calf is not presented for sale at the saleyard unless it —\n\n(a) has reached 5 days of age; and\n\n(b) is in good health; and\n\n(c) is alert and strong enough to rise from a lying position unassisted.\n\nPenalty for this subregulation: a fine of $15 000.\n\n(2) This regulation does not apply if the bobby calf —\n\n(a) was born while its mother was being transported to the saleyard; or\n\n(b) was born at the saleyard.\n\n## Part 5 — Defences\n\n##### 69. Defence for persons responsible for livestock animal\n\n(1) It is a defence to a charge under these regulations for a person to prove that the person —\n\n(a) is a person responsible for the livestock animal the subject of the offence by reason of regulation 6(1)(a), (b) or (e), (2)(a), (2)(b)(ii), (2)(d)(i) or (2)(e)(ii); and\n\n(b) did not have actual physical custody or control of the livestock animal and was not handling the livestock animal; and\n\n(c) took reasonable steps to ensure that the livestock animal would be properly treated and cared for.\n\n(2) It is a defence to a charge under these regulations for a person to prove that the person —\n\n(a) is a person responsible for the livestock animal the subject of the offence by reason only of regulation 6(2)(b)(ii), (2)(d)(i) or (2)(e)(ii); and\n\n(b) did not know, and could not reasonably be expected to have known, that —\n\n(i) the livestock animal was on the vehicle, or at the livestock handling facility or destination, as is relevant in the case; and\n\n(ii) the livestock animal was not being properly treated and cared for.\n\n##### 70. Defence for acts authorised under written law\n\nIt is a defence to a charge under these regulations for a person to prove that the person —\n\n(a) was authorised by or under a written law to do the act that is alleged to constitute the offence; and\n\n(b) did the act in a humane manner.\n\nSchedule 1 — Maximum time off water and minimum spell periods\n\n[r. 12(3) and 13(3)]\n\n| **Column 1** | **Column 2** | **Column 3** | **Column 4** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| **Item** | **Class of livestock animal** | **Maximum time off water (hours)** | **Minimum spell period (hours)** |\n| 1. | Cattle known or visually assessed to be 37 weeks or more pregnant | 4 | 24 |\n| 2. | Cattle known or visually assessed to be 24 weeks or more pregnant but less than 37 weeks pregnant | 24 | 12 |\n| 3. | Lactating cattle with unweaned calves | 24 | 12 |\n| 4. | Cattle that have reached 30 days of age but are under 6 months of age | 24 | 12 |\n| 5. | Bobby calves that have reached 5 days of age | 18 | 24 |\n| 6. | Cattle of a class not otherwise specified in this Schedule (other than bobby calves that are under 5 days of age) | 48 | 36 |\n| 7. | Sheep known or visually assessed to be 19 weeks or more pregnant | 4 | 24 |\n| 8. | Sheep known or visually assessed to be 14 weeks or more pregnant but less than 19 weeks pregnant | 24 | 12 |\n| 9. | Lactating sheep with unweaned lambs | 28 | 12 |\n| 10. | Sheep under 4 months of age | 28 | 12 |\n| 11. | Sheep of a class not otherwise specified in this Schedule | 48 | 36 |\n\n\n![]()\n\nNotes\n\nThis is a compilation of the *Animal Welfare (Transport, Saleyards and Depots) (Cattle and Sheep) Regulations 2020* and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation see the compilation table.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Citation** | **Published** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| *Animal Welfare (Transport, Saleyards and Depots) (Cattle and Sheep) Regulations 2020* | SL 2020/185 2 Oct 2020 | Pt. 1: 2 Oct 2020 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than Pt. 1: 3 Oct 2020 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Animal Welfare (Transport, Saleyards and Depots) (Cattle and Sheep) Amendment Regulations 2020* | SL 2020/234 4 Dec 2020 | r. 1 and 2: 4 Dec 2020 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 5 Dec 2020 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| *Agriculture and Food Regulations Amendment (Veterinary Practice) Regulations 2022* Pt. 4 | SL 2022/98 17 Jun 2022 | 18 Jun 2022 (see r. 2(b) and SL 2022/81 cl. 2) |\n\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\nappropriate arrangements 3\n\nassemble 3\n\nbobby calf 3\n\nbobby calf feeding record 53(1)\n\nbroken horn 11(1)\n\ncattle 3\n\nclass 3\n\ncold stress 3\n\nCold stress 15(2)\n\nconsignor 3\n\ncrate 36(1)\n\ndepot 3\n\ndriver rest stop 40(1)\n\nemaciated 3\n\nextreme weather conditions 3\n\nheat stress 3\n\nHeat stress 15(1)\n\ningrown horn 11(1)\n\njourney 3, 5(1)\n\njourney record 27(1)\n\njourney time 3, 5(2)\n\nlesion 11(1)\n\nlift 3\n\nliquid feed 3\n\nlivestock 3\n\nlivestock animal 3\n\nlivestock handling facility 3\n\nlivestock transporter 3\n\nload 3\n\nmaximum time off water 3, 12(3)\n\nmethod of humane destruction 3, 14(1), (2) and (3)\n\nminimum spell period 3, 13(3)\n\nmistreat 17(1)\n\nmoribund 42(2)\n\nnature of a journey 3\n\nneurological dysfunction 11(1)\n\noperator 3\n\npen 3\n\nperson responsible 3, 6(1) and (2)\n\npremature bobby calf 47(1)\n\nprescribed condition 3, 11(2)\n\nprescribed service method 3\n\nrail operator 3\n\nreasonable access to feed 3, 7\n\nreasonable access to water 3, 8\n\nreasonable loading density 36(1)\n\nreasonable penning density 56(1)\n\nrisk to the welfare of livestock 3\n\nsale 3\n\nsaleyard 3\n\nsaleyard’s humane destruction procedure 65(1)\n\nselection 3\n\nselling pen 56(1)\n\nsheep 3\n\nspell 3, 13(1)\n\nsuitable conditions 29(2), 31(2), 55(2)\n\nsupervised person 23(2)\n\nsupervisor 23(2)\n\ntime off water 3, 12(1)\n\ntransport 3\n\ntransport process 3, 4(1)\n\nunfit for sale 10\n\nunfit to undertake a journey 9(1)\n\nunload 3\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation appears consistent with its original intent as indicated by the title and structure. It covers transport, saleyards, and depots for cattle and sheep as advertised, with appropriate subdivisions for specific contexts (bobby calves, sheep, general welfare). While detailed, the scope has not expanded beyond the regulatory purpose stated in the title."},"complexity_factors":["47 defined terms in the interpretation section (regulation 3), many cross-referencing other regulations","Complex temporal calculations: time off water pauses/resumes during spells, journey times calculated across state borders, multiple time thresholds (4h, 6h, 12h, 18h, 24h, 48h)","Nested conditional logic: multiple defences requiring proof of several elements (e.g., reg 33(3) requires vet advice AND compliance with that advice)","Multiple overlapping categories of 'person responsible' (reg 6) creating shared liability across 9 different roles/agents","Species and class-specific requirements in Schedule 1 with 11 different categories each with unique time limits","External document incorporation by reference (body condition scoring guides, Australian Standards for Export of Livestock)","Exception to exception structure: general prohibitions with defences, then limitations on defences (e.g., humane destruction methods in reg 14)","Cross-referencing between Parts: duties in Part 2 apply generally but are modified by specific provisions in Parts 3 and 4"],"plain_english_summary":"This legislation sets out the rules for how cattle and sheep must be treated during transport, at saleyards (livestock markets), and at depots (rest stops or holding facilities) in Western Australia.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Farmers and consignors** sending animals to market or slaughter\n- **Livestock transporters** (truck drivers and rail operators)\n- **Saleyard and depot operators**\n- **Stock handlers** and anyone else with physical control of animals\n\n**What it does:**\n\n**1. Defines fitness for transport**\nThe regulations spell out when animals are **\"unfit to undertake a journey\"** — including if they can't walk on all hooves, are heavily pregnant (cattle over 37 weeks, sheep over 19 weeks), emaciated, dehydrated, severely injured, blind in both eyes, or have specific medical conditions like broken legs, flystrike, or prolapses. These animals generally cannot be transported unless a veterinarian approves it.\n\n**2. Sets time limits and rest requirements**\nAnimals cannot go without water indefinitely. The rules set **maximum time off water** (ranging from 4 hours for heavily pregnant animals to 48 hours for healthy adult cattle) and require **minimum spell periods** (rest stops with food, water, and space to lie down) ranging from 12 to 36 hours depending on the animal class.\n\n**3. Regulates handling and equipment**\n- Prohibits cruel handling: no dragging by horns/tails/wool, no lifting by single legs, no electric prods on young animals or sensitive areas\n- Requires vehicles and facilities to have proper airflow, non-slip flooring, and safe loading ramps\n- Sets loading density limits to prevent overcrowding\n- Requires segregation of aggressive animals or different classes\n\n**4. Special protections for bobby calves**\nYoung calves under 30 days old (not with their mothers) get extra protections:\n- Under 5 days: can only travel to rearing facilities, max 6 hours, must be fed within 6 hours of loading\n- Over 5 days: max 12 hours travel, must be able to stand unassisted\n- Detailed feeding records must be kept and passed along the supply chain\n\n**5. Saleyard and depot standards**\n- Animals must get water within 24 hours and feed within 48 hours of arrival\n- Pens cannot be overcrowded\n- Saleyards must have written humane destruction procedures and trained staff available\n- Dogs must be muzzled\n\n**6. Record keeping and enforcement**\nTransporters must keep detailed journey records (loading times, water access, inspections, welfare concerns) for 2 years. Inspectors can demand these records. False information carries heavy penalties.\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThese rules aim to prevent animal suffering during the stressful process of transport and sale. They create a chain of responsibility so that everyone from the farmer to the truck driver to the saleyard operator is accountable for animal welfare. Breaches can result in fines up to $15,000."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed. No legislative text was provided — only a page-not-found error from the WA legislation website. It is impossible to determine whether the regulation's scope changed from its original intent without access to the actual instrument or any accompanying explanatory material."},"complexity_factors":["The legislation text is entirely unavailable — only a title and a broken-link error page were provided","No provisions, definitions, schedules, or operative clauses are present to analyse","Complexity cannot be meaningfully assessed without access to the actual regulatory content","Score of 1 reflects absence of analysable material, not simplicity of the underlying law"],"plain_english_summary":"This regulation appears to set rules for treatment of cattle and sheep during transport, at saleyards and at holding depots in Western Australia, affecting livestock transporters, saleyard and depot operators, farmers and agents. The regulation text is currently unavailable online, so its specific duties and penalties can’t be analysed; consult the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office website or contact the PCO Helpdesk to obtain the instrument."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations remain focused on the original purpose: regulating welfare for cattle and sheep during the transport process and while at saleyards and depots. Subsequent amendments (noted in the compilation table) refine and clarify application — for example, updating cross‑references to veterinary authorisations and tightening procedural rules (see amended regs 32, 33 and 35 as indicated) — but do not materially expand the subject‑matter beyond transport, saleyards and depots for cattle and sheep. Changes are primarily technical and clarificatory rather than a substantive expansion of scope."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive definitions: around 60 defined terms in regulation 3 and the defined terms list, many used throughout the instrument","Class‑specific and conditional provisions: Schedule 1 sets different maximum time off water and minimum spell periods by class, producing many branches","Multiple offence provisions with tiered penalties ($7,500 and $15,000) across dozens of regulations","Cross‑references to other instruments and laws (Australian Standards for Export of Livestock; Veterinary Practice Act 2021; Animal Welfare Act 2002)","Recordkeeping, retention (2 years) and production obligations with cross‑jurisdictional transfer rules (regs 24–26, 50–53)","Numerous discretionary standards using terms like “reasonable” and “suitable” that require fact‑by‑fact assessments (regs 7–8, 29(2), 36(1), 56(1))","Nested exceptions and defences (eg vet advice, emergency drag/lift exceptions, custody/knowledge defences in Part 5)","Special, detailed sub‑regimes for bobby calves and for saleyards/depots which operate alongside the general rules (Parts 3–4, Divs 5–6)","Multiple points of liability along the supply chain (owner, consignor, transporter, saleyard operator, receiver) increasing compliance complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)**\n\n- Sets out detailed duties and rules for the transport process, saleyards and depots applying to cattle and sheep in Western Australia. (See regs 4, 5 and reg 3 definitions.)\n- Prescribes who is legally “a person responsible” at every stage (owner, consignor, driver, rail operator, saleyard/depot operator, handlers) and therefore who must comply (reg 6).\n- Defines when an animal is unfit to travel or unfit for sale and bans transport or sale of such animals except in narrow circumstances (regs 9–11, 33, 63).\n- Imposes limits on time off water and minimum rest (\"spell\") periods by class of animal (reg 12, reg 13 and Schedule 1) and requires spells to be provided before those limits are reached (reg 22(3)).\n- Requires record‑keeping and retention for journeys and (for bobby calves) feeding events; requires production of those records to inspectors (regs 24–26, 50–53). Records must be kept for 2 years (regs 25, 51). \n- Sets handling and facility standards (vehicle/pen suitability, loading/unloading, penning density, segregation, airflow, flooring, protection from extreme weather) and inspection duties during journeys and at saleyards/depots (regs 29–31, 36, 55–61).\n- Prescribes animal welfare conduct rules: bans on mistreatment (kicking, throwing, excessive handling), dragging or lifting by certain body parts, limits on electric prods, rules for use of dogs, duties for humane destruction and competence requirements for people who destroy animals (Part 2, regs 17–23, 14). \n- Contains special, stricter rules for young calves (\"bobby calves\") including age, feeding, journey time and penning requirements (regs 44–51, 67–68).\n- Provides enforcement tools: inspectors may require production of records; penalties are set (most breaches attract fines of $7,500 or $15,000) and defences are available (Parts 5; regs 69–70). \n\n**Who it affects**\n\n- Primary duty-bearers: owners and consignors, livestock transporters (drivers and rail operators), saleyard and depot operators, and handlers (reg 6).  \n- Secondary actors: veterinarians (as advisers and for some defences), persons receiving livestock at destinations, and inspectors enforcing the regulations.\n\n**Why it matters (purpose claims and testing them against costs and incentives)**\n\n- Officially, the regulations aim to protect animal welfare during the full transport process by: defining welfare risks (heat/cold stress), forbidding clearly harmful conduct, limiting time off water, mandating spells, setting facility and vehicle standards, and requiring records for traceability (see regs 4, 12–15, 17–24, 29–31, Schedule 1).\n\n- Practical implications and trade-offs:\n  - Compliance costs: transporters and saleyard/depot operators will incur costs for record systems, staff training, vehicle and pen upgrades (airflow, flooring, partitions), provision of bedding and water infrastructure, and maintaining a person capable of humane destruction on site (regs 24, 29, 55, 65–66). Records retention for 2 years (regs 25, 51) adds ongoing administrative cost.\n  - Operational adjustments: journey planning must allow for spells before maximum time off water is reached (regs 12–13, Schedule 1). Shorter legally permitted journey times for some classes (pregnant animals, young calves) may require additional logistics (more trips, different routing, or on‑farm slaughter) and can affect transport economics.\n  - Incentives: the threat of substantial fines ($7,500 or $15,000 depending on the breach) and inspector oversight creates strong incentives to document compliance and avoid transporting unfit animals (see regs 17, 24, 36, 44–46). Veterinary certificates or advice can operate as authorised exceptions/defences in some cases (regs 32, 33, 35).\n  - Discretion and enforcement variability: many standards are phrased as objective but flexible concepts — \"reasonable\", \"suitable\", \"reasonable access\", and \"reasonable loading/penning density\" (eg regs 7–8, 29(2), 36(1), 56(1)). Those terms require fact‑by‑fact assessments by duty holders and inspectors and therefore create scope for inconsistent enforcement and compliance uncertainty.\n  - Distribution of costs and benefits: compliance costs are borne mainly by transporters, saleyards/depot operators, consignors and handlers. Benefits (improved welfare, reduced injuries/deaths) are spread across the public and those who handle livestock. Small operators with older infrastructure may be relatively more affected by upgrade costs.\n  - Implementation risk: effective application depends on competent assessing staff (reg 23 defines \"competent person\"), timely access to veterinarians for borderline fitness decisions, and inspector capacity to audit records and facilities. The regulations also require cross-jurisdictional record sharing where journeys cross state lines (reg 24(3)(b)), which may complicate logistics.\n\n**Who pays, who decides, and what behaviour changes**\n\n- Who pays: owners, consignors, transporters and saleyard/depot operators pay compliance costs (equipment, infrastructure, staffing, bedding, water/feed provisioning, record systems), and may face fines if non-compliant (various regs). Buyers receiving animals may bear costs if animals are identified as weak or unfit on arrival (reg 41). \n- Who decides: the regulations place day-to-day decisions on \"persons responsible\" (reg 6) — they must assess fitness to travel, loading density, segregation, and when to give spells. Inspectors and veterinarians exercise oversight and can provide formal advice or evidence for defences (regs 23, 26, 32–35, 69–70). \n- Behaviour changes required: more frequent and documented welfare checks (reg 40), planned spells/rests and stops (regs 12–13, 22), proactive segregation and penning decisions (regs 36, 56–57), careful use or prohibition of dogs and electric prods (regs 20, 21, 39, 49, 54, 64), and greater record-keeping and information transfer along the supply chain (regs 24, 50). \n\n**Key legal levers and red flags for operators**\n\n- Time limits and spells are prescriptive by class (Schedule 1) and must be factored into route planning.\n- Many offences are strict on process (assess immediately before loading, keep and transfer records), so absent or sloppy paperwork is a practical enforcement target (regs 24, 32–33).\n- Several important concepts are deliberately flexible (\"reasonable\", \"suitable\"), which helps apply the rules across varied situations but increases legal uncertainty for operators (see regs 7–8, 29(2), 36(1), 56(1)).\n- Defences depend on proving reasonable steps, lack of custody/control, or authorisation under written law (regs 69–70), so contemporaneous evidence (records, vet advice) is essential.\n\n**Representative provisions cited**: reg 6 (who is responsible), regs 9–11 (unfit/unfit for sale/prescribed conditions), regs 12–13 & Schedule 1 (time off water and spells), regs 17–23 (handling, humane destruction), regs 24–26 (records), regs 29–31 (vehicle and facility suitability), regs 36–40 (loading density, segregation, inspections), regs 44–51 (bobby calves), regs 55–66 (saleyard/depot duties), regs 69–70 (defences).\n"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/animal-welfare-transport-saleyards-and-depots-cattle-and-sheep-regulations-2020","history":"/api/acts/animal-welfare-transport-saleyards-and-depots-cattle-and-sheep-regulations-2020/history","analysis":"/api/acts/animal-welfare-transport-saleyards-and-depots-cattle-and-sheep-regulations-2020/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/animal-welfare-transport-saleyards-and-depots-cattle-and-sheep-regulations-2020/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/animal-welfare-transport-saleyards-and-depots-cattle-and-sheep-regulations-2020/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/animal-welfare-transport-saleyards-and-depots-cattle-and-sheep-regulations-2020/documents"}}