STANDARD 1 | Sourcing and preparation of livestock for export by sea
1.6.1 - Goats must not be exported by sea on voyages of 10 voyage days or more.
1.6.2 - Goats must have been weaned at least 14 days prior to sourcing for export.
1.6.3 - Goats must not be sourced for export unless they have become conditioned to being handled and to eating and drinking from troughs for a minimum of 21 days.
1.6.4 - Goats must not be sourced for export or exported unless they have a liveweight of 24kg or more.
1.6.5 - Goats must not be sourced for export or exported unless they have been assessed by a competent stock handler against the goat body condition scoring in Table 3 and have a body condition score of 2 to 4 (inclusive) (on a scale of 1 to 5).
Table 3 Goat body condition score
Score | Long ribs (A) | Short ribs (B) | Backbone (C) | Eye muscle (D) |
1 | Individual ribs can be felt very easily; cannot feel any tissues over the ribs. | Short ribs are prominent; it is easy to feel between them. The muscle mass extends two-thirds or less of the way along them. | Bones are raised and sharp; it is easy to feel between them. The muscle mass extends two-thirds or less of the way along them. | Feels noticeably dished. |
2 | Individual ribs can be felt very easily but slight amount of tissue is present. | Ends of short ribs feel square; it is easy to feel between them. The muscle mass extends to the end of the short ribs. | Bones are slightly raised and can be easily felt, with noticeable dishing between them. | Feels straight or slightly dished. |
3 | Individual ribs can be felt easily but some tissue is present. | End of short ribs are rounded; it is still possible to feel between them. | Bones are raised and the ends are rounded; it is still possible to feel between them. | Feels slightly rounded. |
4 | Individual ribs can still be felt but tissue is prominent. | Ends of short ribs are rounded; it may be possible to press between them with pressure. | Bones are slightly raised; it is possible to feel them but not between them. | Feels well rounded. |
5 | Individual ribs can be felt or just felt; tissue is very prominent and may be fluid. | None or only one or two bone ends nearest the rib cage may be felt. It is not possible to press between them. | Some bone ends may still be felt or backbone may be recessed in fat and difficult to feel. It is not possible to feel between bone ends. | Feels very well rounded. |
Source: Greenwood et al., 2001
Figure 2b Visual aid for assisting with body condition scoring of goats
Source: AUS-MEAT
1.6.6 - Female goats sourced for export as feeder or slaughter animals must be individually pregnancy tested using ultrasound within 30 days prior to export, by a competent pregnancy tester who must certify in writing that the animals are not detectably pregnant. The certification must include the certifier's name, veterinary registration number or attestation to experience and skill in pregnancy testing of goats, signature, the mob's identification, and the date of the procedure.
1.6.7 - Female goats sourced for export as breeder animals must:
- be pregnancy tested using ultrasound foetal measurement within 30 days prior to export, by a competent pregnancy tester; and
- be certified in writing by the competent pregnancy tester as either not detectably pregnant or pregnant and if pregnant include the number of days pregnant. The certification must include the certifier's name, veterinary registration number or attestation to experience and skill in pregnancy testing of goats, signature, the individual identification number of the animal and the date of the procedure; and
- be no more than 100 days pregnant at the scheduled date of discharge in the importing country.
1.6.8 - Goats with horns must only be sourced for export or exported if:
- the horns would not cause damage to the head or eyes of the animal or other animals; and
- the horns would not endanger other animals during transport; and
- the horns would not restrict access to feed or water during transport; and
- unless otherwise provided in a long-horned livestock management plan approved in writing by the department, the horns:
- are no longer than 22cm with tips that are no more than 20cm apart; or
- have tips that are further than 20cm apart, but the horns are no longer than 15cm and are blunt.