Our role - animal health and welfare
The Cattle Council represents beef cattle producers when dealing with matters across the Australian animal health and welfare system. This includes representation on all relevant Animal Health Australia and Meat and Livestock Australia program committees (over 30 committees Australia wide).
The Cattle Council meets face-to-face as a Council four times per year to debate and resolve policy issues.
Cattle Council employs the services of an animal health and welfare adviser and utilises an Animal Health, Welfare & Biosecurity Taskforce from within its own ranks. These resources enable the Council to manage the detail of the key animal health, welfare and biosecurity affairs affecting industry.
Cattle Council is an industry member of Animal Health Australia Ltd (AHA), a not-for-profit company comprising a membership of the Australian Government, State and Territory governments and 16 major national livestock industry councils.
Cattle Council works closely with AHA to deliver the national animal health system’s strategic priorities for improving animal health, market access, food safety and quality, animal welfare and livestock productivity as it relates to animal health and welfare. The effect of animal diseases on human health (i.e., zoonoses) is also a focus given its growing importance.
Not only does the Cattle Council develop animal health and welfare policies but it also has input into the development of industry’s biosecurity and emergency animal disease response plans through AHA.
Livestock Production Assurance (LPA)
The Cattle Council is committed to improving on-farm animal health and welfare. The Council promotes sound animal health management practices to members with a focus on Quality Assurance programs, such as the industry’s Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program for which an animal, welfare and biosecurity module is being developed.
Note: LPA has two levels: LPA1 forms the base level and now encompasses virtually all cattle producers throughout Australia; and LPA QA, which incorporates CATTLECARE and so entails an additional layer of assurance from cattle producers to buyers.
Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Cattle
The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Cattle, initiated by the Federal Government, is a set of new Standards (legislated and enforceable = must) and Guidelines (non-legislative =should) supporting cattle welfare at the farm level in Australia.
Cattle Council is ensuring that the beef cattle industry is tightly engaged throughout the development of the Standards and is consulting directly with state farming members to ensure the best possible outcome for beef producers. Read more
