Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock 3.3
STANDARD 1 | 
Sourcing and preparation of livestock for export by sea

1.7.1 - Sheep must have been weaned at least 14 days prior to sourcing for export.

1.7.2 - Sheep must not be sourced for export or exported unless they have a liveweight of 32kg or more, or if pregnant, 40kg or more.

1.7.3 - Sheep must not be sourced for export or exported through any Australian ports north of latitude 26°S from 1 November to 31 May (inclusive).

1.7.4 - Sheep must not be sourced for export or exported unless they have been assessed by a competent stock handler against the sheep body condition scoring in Table 4 and have a body condition score of 2 to 4 (inclusive) (on a scale of 1 to 5).

Table 4 Sheep body condition score

ScoreBackboneShort ribsIllustration
1The bones form a sharp narrow ridge. Each vertebra can be easily felt as a bone under the skin. There is only a very small eye muscle. The sheep is quite thin (virtually unsaleable).The ends of the short ribs are very obvious. It is easy to feel the squarish shape of the ends. Using fingers spread 1 cm apart, it feels like the fingernail under the skin with practically no covering.Image
2The bones form a narrow ridge but the points are rounded with muscle. It is easy to press between each bone. There is a reasonable eye muscle. Store condition ideal for wethers and lean meat.The ends of the short ribs are rounded but it is easy to press between them. Using fingers spread 0.5 cm apart, the ends feel rounded like finger ends. They are covered with flesh but it is easy to press under and between them.Image
3The vertebrae are only slightly elevated above a full eye muscle. It is possible to feel each rounded bone but not to press between them. Forward store condition ideal for most lamb markets now. No excess fat.The ends of the short ribs are well rounded and filled in with muscle. Using 4 fingers pressed tightly together, it is possible to feel the rounded ends but not between them. They are well covered and filled in with muscle.Image
4It is possible to feel most vertebrae with pressure. The back bone is a smooth slightly raised ridge above full eye muscles and the skin floats over it.It is only possible to feel or sense 1 or 2 short ribs and only possible to press under them with difficulty. It feels like the side of the palm, where maybe one end can just be sensed.Image
5The spine may only be felt (if at all) by pressing down firmly between the fat covered eye muscles. A bustle of fat may appear over the tail (wasteful and uneconomic).It is virtually impossible to feel under the ends as the triangle formed by the long ribs and hip bone is filled with meat and fat. The short rib ends cannot be felt.Image

Source: Lifetime Wool

1.7.5 - Female sheep with a weight of 40kg or more, and all female fat-tailed sheep 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 sheep, signature, the mob's identification, and the date of the procedure.

1.7.6 - Female sheep sourced for export as breeder animals must:

  1. be pregnancy tested using ultrasound foetal measurement within 30 days prior to export, by a competent pregnancy tester; and
  2. 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 sheep, signature, the individual identification number of the animal and the date of the procedure; and
  3. be no more than 100 days pregnant at the scheduled date of discharge in the importing country.

1.7.7 - Sheep with horns must not be sourced for export or exported if the horns:

  1. could cause damage to the head or eyes of the animal or other animals during transport; and
  2. could injure the animal or other animals during transport; and
  3. could restrict access to feed or water during transport; and
  4. are more than 1 full curl, unless otherwise provided for in a long–horned livestock management plan approved in writing by the department, or show signs consistent with the rejection criteria specified in Table 1.