Animal Welfare Guidelines

​​​All states are working towards nationally consistent livestock welfare standards and guidelines. Under this system guidelines are accepted good industry practice that should be complied with.

They are advisory documents approved under the Animal Welfare Act 1993 for the education and guidance of persons involved in the care and management of animals, promoting the adoption of good standards of husbandry.

In this topic

  • Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines
    The welfare standards and guidelines for livestock aim to harmonise and streamline livestock welfare legislation in Australia, ensuring that it results in improved welfare outcomes and is practical for industry. This website gives a progress update, background, consultative process and a submissions page on all previous and current national standards and guidelines development.
  • Animal Welfare Guidelines - Full List
    Animal welfare guidelines are accepted good industry practice and should be complied with.
  • Calves - Welfare in Trade & Transport
    Animal Welfare Guidelines - Trade and Transport of Calves, including Bobby Calves
  • Cattle Welfare
    Tasmanian Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Cattle
  • Deer Hunting
    Code of Practice for the hunting of wild fallow deer in Tasmania
  • Deer Welfare
    Animal Welfare Guidelines for the keeping and farming of deer in Tasmania.
  • Dogs
    Guideline under the Animal Welfare Act 1993 intended to help people involved in the care and management of animals to adopt high standards of husbandry.
  • Duck Hunting
    Code of Practice for the Hunting of ducks in Tasmania (Approved as an Animal Welfare Guideline)
  • Emu Welfare
    Animal Welfare Guidelines - Husbandry of Captive Bred Emus
  • Goat Welfare
    Animal welfare guideline for goats in Tasmania
  • Horse Welfare
    Tasmanian animal welfare guidelines for horses.
  • Land Transport of Livestock
    The Tasmanian Animal Welfare Guidelines for the Land Transport of Livestock are the nationally agreed ‘Guidelines’ contained in the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines – Land Transport of Livestock.
  • Muttonbird harvesting
    Tasmanian animal welfare guidelines for the humane killing of muttonbirds (shearwaters).
  • Pig Welfare
    Primary Industries Standing Committee - Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Pigs, Third edition, PISC Report 92.
  • Possums - Welfare in capture, handling transport & slaughter
    Animal Welfare Guidelines - Code of Practice for the Capture, Handling, Transport and Slaughter of Brush-tail Possums in Tasmania
  • Possums - Welfare in Field Shooting
    Animal Welfare Guidelines - Field Shooting of Brushtail Possums in Tasmania
  • Poultry Welfare
    The Primary Industries Standing Committee - Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Domestic Poultry 4th edition, SCARM Report 83
  • Rabbit Farming - Welfare
    Tasmanian Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Intensive Husbandry of Rabbits
  • Rodeos - Animal Welfare
    The Animal Welfare Act makes it compulsory for rodeos in Tasmania to be run under a prescribed code of practice.
  • Saleyards - Animal Welfare
    Contents include: Scope and intention of these guidelines; Duty of care; Stock handling facilities; Water and food; Loading and unloading; Special considerations of species; Industrial disputes and abattoirs; and Appendix 1 - Humane destruction of stock.
  • Sheep Welfare
    Contents include: Scope and intention of these guidelines; Duty of care; Food and water; Protection from climatic extremes, natural disasters and predation; Sheep handling facilities; Management practices; Minor surgical procedures; Protecting from disease; Drought; Lambing; Orphan lambs; Emergency destruction of sheep; and Appendix 1 - Mulesing.
  • Transport of Livestock Across Bass Strait
    Summary of Guidelines to be followed for transportation of livestock across Bass Strait.
  • Wallaby hunting
    Animal Welfare Standard for the Hunting of Wallabies in Tasmania.

​To report animal cruelty:
RSPCA Inspectorate
Phone: 1300 139 947
Email: reportit@rspcatas.org.au


For further information on Animal Welfare Guidelines:​​

Contact

Animal Welfare Enquiries

13 St Johns Avenue,
New Town, TAS, 7008.