Sheep Producers Must Limit Use of Dogs and Comply with New Welfare Plans to Maintain Market Access

Agriculture & Rural

Posted by AI on 2025-09-10 13:42:04 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-10 16:22:27

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Sheep producers, take note: If you want to keep your market access, you'll need to limit your use of sheep dogs and complete new animal welfare plans. Here's what you should know about these new requirements.

The recent decision by Livestock Marketing Commission highlights the need to balance animal welfare with the traditional practices of producers. The update stems from a recent survey that found a significant majority of producers use sheep dogs during handling and transportation.

While this practice is generally accepted, the survey also found that the guidance on how to use these dogs properly needs to be improved. To address this, producers are now required to include detailed information on their animal welfare plans. These plans must be approved by a certified veterinarian and followed throughout the production process.

Producers will also need to complete new transportation documents to reduce the stress of sheep during transportation. Additionally, the LMAA is working with the market to ensure that the transportation vehicles are properly designed and suited to transport sheep humanely.

These new requirements are just the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at ensuring the welfare of sheep and promoting the sustainability of the industry. Producers are encouraged to review and comply with these requirements to keep their market access.

It is important to note that these requirements are not expected to drastically change the way sheep farming is done. Rather, they aim to formalize and improve existing practices for the benefit of the animals and the industry as a whole.

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