AUSTRALIA'S cattle industry should not sell stock in saleyards or castrate animals over three months, a new set of guidelines says.
The RSPCA has this week released its animal welfare guidelines for beef cattle which it said is designed to lift standards in the "short and medium term".
The 15-page document covers both on-farm and supply chain management and is based on what the organisation calls five freedoms.
The are freedom from: hunger and thirst; discomfort; pain, injury or disease; to express normal behaviour, and from fear and distress.
One of the key recommendations sure to raise ire from the industry is under the responsibilities and training section.
The aim of the RSPCA guideline is for animals "not to endure unnecessarily long journey times".
The organisation calls for cattle not to be sent to saleyards but instead be sent to the "nearest available abattoir".
The guidelines also recommend cattle are not sent to live export, calving cows are inspected daily and are not ear notched (marked).
Castration of bull calves must be carried out under three months, and the calves must be given pre and post procedure pain relief.
One guideline which is sure to raise the ire of stud breeders is that cattle producers should only by poll bulls.
And if polled cattle cannot be bought, the RSPCA recommends horn trimming or tipping rather than dehorning.
The guidelines can be read at http://www.rspca.org.au/assets/files/RSPCA
