Mt Barker awarded for welfare standards
The Mt Barker Saleyards have been recognised for excellence in animal welfare, recently winning the 2017 national award for animal welfare in saleyards and lairages.
The award was presented by the Australian Livestock Markets Association at its annual general meeting and conference, held this year in Rockhampton.
Shire of Plantagenet saleyards manager Stewart Smith said staff had worked to ensure there was a strong emphasis on the environmental impacts of a saleyard.
“It was a great team effort and I’m very proud of the hard work by all staff on improving animal welfare, including soft floor matting installed in 2013, new dispersal roofing and more holding pens,” Mr Smith said.
“It hopefully demonstrates that we are focused on continually improving our animal welfare standards, which goes hand-in-hand with animal compliance.
“We strive for excellence in these areas at all times.”
The Mt Barker saleyards was named runner-up last year but has never been recognised in any award division before.
The facility has a weekly cattle sale every Thursday and turns over 67,000 head annually through the sale system and private weighs.
Mr Smith said it was an attractive sales facility for cattle farmers spread over a wide area, with cattle sourced from as far away as Esperance, Merredin and Manjimup.
“We take pride in the presentation of the complex and sale cattle and work to ensure the easy working of the yard facility and maintaining a friendly atmosphere for all stakeholders,” he said.
“We always believe that we are doing the very best in our field, which reflects on the users of the yards and the buyers who support us every week,” he said.
“If we care, it shows that we also care about vendors’ cattle.”
Mr Smith, along with the Shire, is an active member of the Australian Livestock Marketing Association, receiving updates regularly for eight years on what is relevant in the Cattle industry Australia-wide.
“We have a very good relationship with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and push heavily the ‘fit to load’ guide-lines for all cattle,” Mr Smith said.