Sheep

The 'Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Sheep' are part of a series of projects to develop livestock welfare standards and guidelines.

The standards and guidelines for sheep will be refined from the Model Code of Practice for the welfare of animals (MCOP) and will apply to all people responsible for the care and management of sheep.

‘The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Sheep’ will follow the principles described in the revised Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines Development Business Plan (507 KB) .

The sheep writing group, responsible for drafting the standards and guidelines for sheep, is comprised of representatives from: Animal Welfare Committee (AWC), Sheepmeat Council, WoolProducers, CSIRO science and DAFF. The group is led by an independent Chair and supported by Animal Health Australia (AHA).

The sheep reference group is comprised of representatives from all aspects of sheep care and management. Reference group meetings are held to review the standards and guidelines draft and to provide further guidance; a 90 day public consultation period is part of the process.

Progress report

The first sheep reference group meeting was held on 25 & 26 June 2009 in Canberra.

Sheep reference group members were asked to review the first draft standards and guidelines to ensure the standards meet the intended objectives as well as approve the business and communications plans.  The sheep reference group agree that the draft standards and guidelines for sheep is on track and makes the necessary provision for all of aspects of sheep care.

The sheep writing group will meet to discuss the feedback and make appropriate changes to the next standards and guidelines draft. A further reference group meeting is planned for early in 2010 prior to public consultation.