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SAFA Codes |
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| SAFA NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES |
| These guidelines are in a document which can be viewed by
downloading the following file: |
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| MEMBERS' CODE |
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| Every member of the South African Feedlot Association undertakes to
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- Promote the image and the standing of the Association at all
times
- Conduct business in an ethical and honest manner
- Implement fair and proper employment practice
- Promote a positive attitude towards fellow members in all
dealings
- Further the aims and objectives of all members when representing
the Association
- Practice humane production systems that are compatible with the
environment.
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| LIVESTOCK CODE |
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| THE FIVE RIGHTS OF ANIMALS |
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The five rights of animals are included to establish a humane
environment for the handling and production of beef in intensive feeding
systems. |
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| The Right to Freedom of Movement |
- The feedlot pens should be constructed according to
specifications of pen area, per size/mass class, ground surface
and climatic conditions.
- Feedlot animals should not be left in confined spaces such
as races, squeeze chutes, dipping pens, arrival pens or sorting
pens indefinitely where their movement is restricted.
- The pen gradient slope should be sufficient to allow maximum
runoff and speedy drying off under heavy rainy conditions.
- Pen manure removal should take place routinely but at least
annually.
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| The Right to Free Access to Fresh Feed and Water
at all times |
- Pen construction should make allowance for sufficient feed
bunk space to allow optimum feed intakes daily.
- Fresh feed should be available at all times depending on
moisture content which, if high, would lead to less feed more
regularly.
- Feed bunkers and water troughs should be cleaned routinely.
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| The Right to Appropriate Health Care |
- Purchasing of sick, deformed and injured animals should be
avoided where possible
- All animals should be treated for parasites where necessary
and inoculated (depending on origin and feedlot location)
shortly after arrival
- All equipment used for treatment should be clean and
instruments sterilized before application
- Sick animals should be pulled timeously from pens and moved
to a hospital for treatment and observation by relevantly
trained workers
- No treatment, feeding regime or practice which is
detrimental to animal health should be permitted.
- Dust can cause and spread diseases and should be kept as low
a level as possible.
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| The Right to Freedom from Injury and Suffering |
- Excessively tired or sick animals should not be transported
either to or from the feedlot.
- Seriously injured or terminally sick animals should be put
down as quickly and humanely as possible
- Blind and deformed animals should be kept separate to
prevent further injuries
- Handling facilities and loading ramps should be constructed
to prevent animal injuries and bruising or abrasions.
- The use of damaged facilities and equipment should be
suspended until repaired
- Workers responsible for health treatment, processing,
loading and unloading of animals should be relevantly trained.
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| The Right to Freedom from Harassment |
- Animals that are harassed by their pen mates, i.e.
weaklings, injured or deformed, poor doers, riders, heifers
amongst bulls and undersized animals should be removed and
grouped accordingly.
- Personnel embarking on malicious ill-treatment, injudicious
use of prodders and branding irons, beating with sticks or whips
should be severely disciplined.
- Animals should be placed in appropriate size, age and sex
categories when entering the production phase to avoid undue
harassment.
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| The above rights of animals in intensive feedlot
production systems are underwritten without reservations in the
Executive Committee of the South African Feedlot Association. |
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| CODE FOR FEEDLOTS |
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| Aims and Objectives |
| To ensure standards and the use of good husbandry practices of
animals in all types of feedlots, which are to be read with the Code of
practice for the Handling and Transport of Livestock, the five rights of
animals, and comply with the Animals Protection Act, 1962 (Act No. 71 of
1962) as amended. |
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| Feedlot Construction |
- Feedlots shall, wherever possible, be founded on ground
which has a mild slope, sufficient to ensure the rapid run-off
of rain water to prevent the pens from becoming excessively
waterlogged or muddy.
- To facilitate inspection , all pens shall be numbered or
identified with a letter of the alphabet.
- Handling facilities and loading ramps should be designed and
constructed to prevent animal injuries and bruising or abrasions
and must prevent animals from falling or jumping off.
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| Area of Pens |
- The feedlot pens should be constructed according to
specifications of pen area per size/mass class, ground surface
and climatic conditions, which criteria determine the minimum
pen space per animal, which may not be less than 9 square meters
per bovine and 2 square meters per sheep.
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| Feedlot Management |
- Animals should be allowed to rest, with ad-lib food and
water after transportation to feedlots, before any routine
procedures are undertaken.
- It is recommended that animals arrive during daylight hours
in winter.
- Blind and deformed animals and animals with young shall be
kept separate.
- Animals that are harassed by their pen-mates, e.g.
weaklings, poor doers, riders, heifers amongst bulls, ewes
amongst rams, undersized, blind, etc. shall be removed and
grouped appropriately.
- Animals shall be placed in appropriate size, age and sex
categories respectively.
- Animals that become ill or injured shall not have to walk
more than 400 meters and seriously injured or downed animals
should be transported to strategically placed hospitals.
- Animals should not be confined in any area other than the
normal pen, for longer than is necessary to perform the
procedure being undertaken, e.g. dipping. All procedures
must be supervised at all times by trained personnel.
- Pen manure removal should take place routinely but at least
annually.
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| Worker Identification |
- All personnel working with the animals shall be readily
identifiable, suitably trained and skilled in order to perform
their duties competently.
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| Handling |
- Strict or severe discipline should be imposed upon personnel
for malicious ill-treatment, injudicious use of prodders and
branding irons and beating with sticks, metal rods or whips.
- Shouting, kicking, tail-twisting, lifting sheep by the
fleece, hitting of animals or similar methods are unacceptable.
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| Feedbunk and Water Supply |
- Water troughs should be sited in relation to feedbunkers in
a position in which they can easily be inspected and where the
animals cannot easily foul the water with feed still in their
mouths.
- Fresh feed should be available at all times, depending on
moisture content which, if high, would lead to less feed more
regularly.
- Feedbunkers and water troughs should be clean at all times.
- The water supply should always be fresh, clean and
sufficient for requirements.
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| Health |
- Dust can cause and spread diseases and should be kept at as
low a level as possible.
- Purchasing of sick, deformed and injured animals should be
avoided where possible.
- Injured, sick or excessively tired animals shall not be
transported to or from feedlots.
- All animals treatment procedures should be undertaken only
by suitably trained and competent personnel.
- All animals, where necessary, shall be treated for parasites
and inoculated (depending on origin and feedlot location)
shortly after arrival.
- All equipment used for treatment of animals should be clean
and instruments sterilized before application.
- No treatment, feeding regime or practice which may be
detrimental to animal health or welfare should be permitted.
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| Emergency Slaughter |
- Seriously injured or terminally sick animals shall be
destroyed quickly and humanely.
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| Emergency Precations |
- Contingency plans to cope with emergencies should exist.
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