7Handling of sheep

7 Handling of sheep

(1)  In this regulation –

emergency means a circumstance where animal welfare, or human safety, may be compromised;

lift, a sheep, means to handle the sheep so that the majority of the weight of the sheep is not resting on the ground.

(2)  A person must handle a sheep in a manner that, as far as possible, minimises the risk of injury or death to the sheep.

Penalty:  In the case of –

(a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and

(b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.

(3)  A person handling a sheep must not take one or more of the following actions in respect of the sheep:

(a) lift the sheep off the ground only by the head, ears, horns, neck, tail, wool or one leg;

(b) drag sheep that are not standing, unless –

(i) it is an emergency; and

(ii) the dragging is to give the minimum distance possible to allow for the safe handling, lifting, treatment or humane destruction of the sheep.

(4)  Subregulation (3)(a) does not apply to the lifting of a sheep in an emergency.