Is your animal fit to load?

By Dr Jeff Cave

Feb 13, 2025

Make sure your livestock are fit to be loaded and transported.

It’s important to remember, if you are the person in charge of an animal it is your responsibility for its welfare.

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Community values and expectations will not accept anything less.

It always pleases me when someone reaches out to ask, ‘is this animal fit to load?’

If you are in doubt about an animal’s suitability for transport, you can always ask your private veterinarian the question also.

Furthermore, there is a Meat & Livestock Australia guideline titled Is the animal fit to load?. This guideline can be viewed on MLA’s website.

In summary, an animal is not fit to load if it is:

not able to walk normally or bear weight on all its legs. This may be due to a recent or old fracture, an injury, a deformity or an infection.
Not strong enough to make the journey.
Suffering from severe distress or injury.
In a condition that could cause it increased pain or distress during transport.
Blind in both eyes.
In late pregnancy.

If you identify an animal that is unfit to load you have a few options.

You could treat the animal and transport it when it has recovered and is fit to load. Naturally, this is not an option in cases that are not readily treatable.

Alternatively, you could humanely destroy the animal. A knackery service is available in many areas to help with this option.

Finally, you could consult a veterinarian and only transport under veterinary advice.

For further advice contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria veterinary or animal health officer.

– Dr Jeff Cave is an Agriculture Victoria senior veterinary officer.