Bobby calves
Consignors need to meet specific requirements for bobby calves.
Prior to loading a bobby calf less than five days old, consignors must ensure the calf:
- has been adequately fed milk or milk replacer on the farm within six hours prior to loading
- is provided with thick bedding and room to lie down
- is protected from cold and heat
- does not have a journey time greater than six hours
- is only being transported directly to a calf rearing facility (i.e. not through a saleyard)
Prior to loading a bobby calf between five and 30 days old, consignors and transporters must ensure the calf:
- is protected from cold and heat
- is in good health, alert and able to rise from a lying position
- has been adequately fed milk or milk replacer on the farm within six hours prior to loading
- is provided with thick bedding and room to lie down
- is transported to ensure delivery in less than 18 hours from last feed and has a journey time (including loading and unloading) of no more than 12 hours
- has as an accessible record that shows that the calf was last fed within six hours of loading unless the journey is between rearing properties and is less than six hours duration
A person must not:
- consign a bobby calf across Bass Strait
- use a dog or an electric prodder to move a bobby calf during the transport process
- throw, drop, hit or drag a calf at any time
- lift an animal off the ground by the head, ears, neck, tail, hair or single leg
Calves must be handled gently and with patience at all times. Calves should be unloaded with care as they fatigue easily and may not follow other animals. Ramps used for bobby calves should not have a slope greater than 12 degrees.
A person consigning a premature calf (including induced calf) must ensure the calf is as fit for the journey as a normal, full-term calf.
Note: For more information on transporting bobby calves please refer to the Dairy Australia Website: www.dairyaustralia.com.au