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SB7.1 Time off water must not exceed the time periods given below:

We know of no scientific data to suggest that goats-particularly wild goats can travel for 48 hours without water and be physically and psychologically healthy at destination. Given that most goats transported are wild and so have not had human contact before, their stress levels are usually high. Their coping mechanisms are under significant pressure and as a result many goats can die before and during transportation. This is borne out in the figures for their deaths in live export.

Once again the ‘known to be’ lets the consignor off the hook is a problem eventuates.

Replace with:
SB7.1 Time off water must not exceed the time periods given below:

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SB7.2 If goats over 6 months old have been off water for 48 hours, they must be spelled for 36 hours before starting another journey.
If kids have been off water for 28 hours, they must be spelled for 12 hours before starting another journey.
If goats known to be more than 14 weeks pregnant excluding the last 2 weeks, have been off water for 24 hours, they must be spelled for 12 hours before starting another journey.

Even more care must be taken transporting wild/goats because of their inability to cope with the stresses of human contact and captivity/restraint. It is therefore imperative that the consignor make sure that he knows the animals are pregnant. If does not know then he does not transport them. He should, however know because he is supposed to be a professional!

Replace with:
SB7.2 If goats over 6 months old have been off water for 38 hours, they must be spelled for 30 hours before starting another journey.
If kids have been off water for 12 hours, they must be spelled for 12 hours before starting another journey.
If goats more than 12 weeks pregnant excluding the last 4 weeks, have been off water for 18 hours, they must be spelled for 12 hours before starting another journey.

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SB7.3 Approved methods of humane destruction for:
i) goats over 6 months old are firearm, captive bolt, lethal injection or bleeding out; bleeding out by neck cut must be done only by a competent operator and in situations where there is no firearm or captive bolt available
ii) kids are firearm, captive bolt, lethal injection, bleeding out or blunt trauma; bleeding out by neck cut must be done only by a competent operator and in situations where there is no firearm or captive bolt available; blunt trauma must only be used for kids that are less than 24 hours old and where there is no firearm or captive bolt available.

Anyone who has the responsibility of killing the animal MUST be trained, accredited and competent in this activity otherwise there is no way of ensuring as much as possible that the killing is ‘humane’.
There are serious issues with the use of blunt trauma such as: the ability to restrain the animal, the accuracy and repeatability of the smashing of the head

Replace with:
SB7.3 Approved methods of humane destruction for:
i) goats over 6 months old are firearm, captive bolt, lethal injection or bleeding out; bleeding out by neck cut must be done only by a trained, accredited and competent. operator and only in situations where there is no firearm or captive bolt available
ii) kids are firearm, captive bolt, lethal injection, bleeding out or blunt trauma; bleeding out by neck cut must be done only by a trained, accredited and competent. operator and only in situations where there is no firearm or captive bolt available; blunt trauma must only be used for kids that are less than 24 hours old and where there is no firearm or captive bolt available.

NEW STANDARD:

SB7.4 Goats in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy must not be transported.
The navel must be healed on kids before transport.

NEW STANDARD:

SB7.5    SB5.4 Electric prodders must not be used on goats.

NEW STANDARD:

SB7.6 All goats — particularly wet and weak goats —must be fed dry hay or fibre before transport, allowing for curfew periods as appropriate, to sustain them for the journey.

NEW STANDARD:

SB7.7 Goats to be transported longer than 24 hours should be fed and watered within 5 hours before loading.