Part 8Cattle

Part 8—Cattle 62—Interpretation calf rearing system means the intensive raising of calves for the purposes of production whereby the calves are kept in an enclosure (whether indoors or outdoors) containing feeding and watering facilities by which the calves are completely hand or mechanically fed and watered; cattle feedlot means a confined yard or other enclosure (whether indoors or outdoors) with feeding and watering facilities in which cattle are completely hand or mechanically fed and watered for the primary purpose of beef production, but does not include— (a) the keeping of cattle in such manner on a short term basis— (i) for the purpose of weaning, dipping or other husbandry procedure; or (ii) for the purposes of drought or other emergency feeding; or (iii) at a sale yard or abattoir; or (b) the keeping of calves in a calf rearing system; cattle health management plan—see regulation 72(6); dairy cow or dairy cattle means a cow or cattle kept in the course of the business of a dairy; dehorning, in relation to cattle, means removing any sensitive part of the horn of an animal (but does not include a procedure whereby only the insensitive part of the horn is removed); disbudding, in relation to cattle, means preventing the development of an animal's horns by destroying or removing the horn producing tissue of the animal before it attaches to its skull; feed pad means a dedicated yard or enclosure in which supplementary food is provided to cattle. (2) This Part is in addition to and does not derogate from the operation of— (a) the Agricultural and Veterinary Products (Control of Use) Act 2002; or (b) the Livestock Act 1997; or (c) the Veterinary Practice Act 2003. 63—General requirements (1) A person who has the care, control and management of cattle must take reasonable steps to minimise the risk of harm to the cattle from extreme weather conditions, disease and injury. (2) A person who has the care, control and management of dairy cattle must ensure that, within 12 hours after birth, a calf has received colostrum or a colostrum substitute. (3) A person who has the care, control and management of cattle must ensure that the cattle are inspected to assess the health and well-being of the cattle, at such intervals and in such manner as is reasonable in the circumstances, having regard to the following: (a) the stocking density of the cattle; (b) the availability of suitable feed; (c) the reliability of water supply; (d) the age of the cattle; (e) the pregnancy status of the cattle; (f) the climatic conditions; (g) any other factors that are relevant in the circumstances. (4) A person who has the care, control and management of cattle must ensure that an animal identified as being sick, diseased or injured is, as soon as is reasonably practicable— (a) provided with such medical treatment or other assistance as is reasonable and necessary in the circumstances; or (b) humanely destroyed. (5) A person driving cattle must ensure that the cattle are given sufficient rest to ensure the cattle do not collapse from exhaustion. (6) A person who has the care, control and management of cattle must, if an animal is tethered, ensure that the animal is given adequate and appropriate exercise every day. (7) Subregulation (6) does not apply to cattle that are tethered for the purposes of public display at an agricultural show, field day or other similar event. 64—Facilities and equipment A person who owns cattle must ensure that any buildings, yards, enclosures, paddocks, ramps and other facilities and equipment used in the handling and keeping of the cattle are suitable for the purpose, appropriately maintained and operated or used in such a manner so as to minimise the risk of injury to the cattle. 65—Use of dogs A person may only use a dog to assist in the control, handling or movement of cattle if— (a) the dog is under effective control at all times; and (b) in the case of the control, handling or movement of a bobby calf—the dog is wearing a muzzle. 66—Identification of cattle A person must not identify cattle by means of placing a permanent hot iron or freeze brand on the head of an animal. 67—Castration and spaying (1) Subject to subregulation (2), a person who has the care, control and management of cattle must ensure that castration is not carried out on an animal that is 6 months of age or older unless the animal is given a suitable analgesic or is anaesthetised. (2) If the first yarding of an animal does not occur before the animal is 6 months of age, castration may be carried out on that animal without it being given a suitable analgesic or anaesthetic despite the fact that it is 6 months of age or older provided that— (a) castration is carried out at the first yarding of the animal; and (b) the animal is less than 12 months of age. (3) A person must not spay a cow using the flank approach unless the person is a veterinary surgeon. 68—Dehorning and disbudding of cattle (1) Subject to subregulation (2), a person who has the care, control and management of cattle must ensure that dehorning is not carried out on an animal 6 months of age or older unless the animal is given a suitable analgesic or is anaesthetised. (2) If the first yarding of an animal does not occur before the animal is 6 months of age, dehorning may be carried out on that animal without it being given a suitable analgesic or anaesthetic despite the fact that it is 6 months of age or older provided that— (a) dehorning is carried out at the first yarding of the animal; and (b) the animal is less than 12 months of age. (3) A person who has the care, control and management of cattle must ensure that disbudding is not carried out on cattle by the use of caustic chemicals unless— (a) the animal is a calf that is less than 14 days of age; and (b) the skin on the head of the calf is dry immediately before the commencement of the procedure and the skin is kept dry for at least 12 hours immediately after the procedure; and (c) the calf is segregated from its mother for at least 4 hours immediately after the procedure. 69—Breeding management (1) A person must not carry out laparoscopic insemination or the surgical transfer of an embryo on cattle unless the person is a veterinary surgeon or is acting under the direct supervision of a veterinary surgeon. (2) A person who has the care, control and management of cattle must ensure that induction of calving is carried out only under the direction of a veterinary surgeon. 70—Calf rearing systems A person who has the care, control and management of a calf in a calf rearing system must ensure— (a) that the calf is provided with adequate food containing sufficient nutrients to prevent anaemia in the calf and to otherwise ensure the calf's good health and vitality; and (b) that the calf is given sufficient access to water each day to ensure the calf's good health and vitality; and (c) that the calf is inspected at least once a day to assess the calf's health and well-being; and (d) in the case of a calf housed in a pen—that the calf has sufficient room to be able to stand with fully extended legs, turn around and lie down on its sternum. 71—Dairy management A person who has the care, control and management of a lactating dairy cow must ensure— (a) that the cow is inspected at least once a day to assess the cow's health and well-being; and (b) that appropriate measures are taken to minimise the risk of harm to the cow from heat stress. 72—Cattle feedlots (1) A person who has the care, control and management of cattle kept in a cattle feedlot must ensure— (a) that there is a minimum area of 9 square metres per standard cattle unit for cattle held in the enclosure; and (b) that the cattle are inspected at least once a day to assess the health and well-being of the cattle; and (c) that the cattle are provided with adequate feed each day containing sufficient nutrients to ensure the good health and vitality of the cattle; and (d) that the cattle are given sufficient access to water each day to ensure the good health and vitality of the cattle; and (e) that the feedlot has ready access to backup equipment or a system that may be relied on to provide feed or water to the cattle in the event of a failure or malfunction of the regular feeding and watering system. (2) For the purposes of subregulation (1), 1 standard cattle unit is equivalent to an animal with a live body weight of 600 kilograms. (3) A person who has the care, control and management of cattle kept in a cattle feedlot must ensure— (a) that there is a cattle health management plan for the feedlot in respect of the cattle; and (b) that the plan is implemented when necessary in the circumstances to ensure the health and vitality of the cattle. (4) A person who has the care, control and management of cattle kept in a cattle feedlot must ensure that the feedlot is cleaned and maintained to ensure that the yards or other enclosures can drain freely. (5) A person who has the care, control and management of cattle kept in a cattle feedlot must ensure that while calving, a cow and any calf produced are housed separately to other cattle in the feedlot. (6) For the purposes of this regulation— cattle health management plan for a feedlot means a plan that— (a) contains an annual assessment of the potential heat load risk to the health and well-being of the cattle kept in the feedlot and specifies measures and action to be taken to prevent or minimise that risk; and (b) specifies measures and action to be taken in the event of an excessive heat load emergency (an Excessive Heat Load Action Plan); and (c) identifies potential health and biosecurity risks to the cattle and specifies action to prevent or minimise that risk; and (d) specifies measures and action to be taken in the event of a biosecurity emergency; and (e) contains any other requirements specified by the Minister.