New animal welfare requirement introduced to LPA accreditation

In late June, a new requirement was added to Australia’s on-farm assurance program, giving producers a clear way to show how they’re meeting animal welfare standards on-farm.

The change is supported by a new tool – the Animal Welfare Management Plan (AWMP) – which helps verify on-farm practices and reinforces the Australian red meat industry’s commitment to animal welfare.

Integrity Systems Company (ISC) Quality, Policy and Compliance Manager Elizabeth Bradley said the AWMP builds on existing requirements outlined in the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines.

“Beforehand, producers were required to complete online training and have access to the Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines. Now, accreditation will require that they document what they’re doing to meet those Standards on-farm,” Elizabeth said.

As part of the Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) accreditation process, producers will be asked what on-farm activities they undertake. They’ll then be shown the relevant animal welfare standards and asked to explain how they meet them.

“This might include staff training, ensuring good animal handling, and monitoring animals.

“Building this into LPA Accreditation is a great way to further demonstrate to international markets and domestic consumers how we deliver animal welfare on-farm,” Elizabeth said.

Supporting the ABSF

Best-practice animal care is a key theme of the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework (ABSF).

The LPA Program, which provides evidence of livestock history and on-farm practices throughout the supply chain, is a key data source in demonstrating the industry’s animal welfare performance.

According to the ABSF 2024 Annual Update, 100% of beef producers are aware of the Australian Animal Welfare Standards for Cattle.

Elizabeth said having producers actively consider how they’re enacting those standards is another way of expressing their importance within a livestock operation.

 “Having the producers state how they’re meeting requirements deepens awareness and shows how important animal welfare within their operation is.

“Producers are already doing a lot to ensure animal welfare, and the Animal Welfare Management Plan highlights this best practice,” Elizabeth said.

“This is a great addition to the reputation of our industry and how proactive producers are on-farm. We do things really well, and this is another way of showing how.”

The new AWMP tool is available for completion online at any time or as part of accreditation and reaccreditation during the LPA Self-Assessment.

From 1 September 2025, LPA auditors will begin checking if an AWMP has been completed.