Moving and exporting livestock

If you want to import, export, or move animals within the Northern Territory (NT), you must meet the requirements of the Livestock Act 2008 and Livestock Regulations 2009:

These animals include:

• cattle and buffalo
• horses, including mules and donkeys
• sheep, goats and pigs
• alpacas, camels and llamas
• deer
• bees
• crocodiles.

There are no restrictions on moving poultry or pigeons.

This section explains the different rules and regulations and how they apply to different kinds of livestock.

You should also read how to brand and identify livestock.

You must take the following steps, as shown in the table below, before you can move livestock within the Northern Territory (NT):

• complete an NT waybill for the consignment of livestock
• have an NT property identification code (PIC) for the property of origin and the destination property
• have a registered brand on cattle more than eight months old
• have an approved National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) device on each animal being moved
• have your animals inspected and treated for cattle ticks if they are moving from either
  • the tick-infected zone to a control or tick-free zone
  • or the Parkhurst tick-infected zoned to the infected, control or free zone
• abide by the livestock welfare and land transport standards.

The table below sets out which requirement applies to your animals.

There are no restrictions on moving crocodiles, honey bees, poultry and pigeons within the NT.

You must use an NT waybill to move all of the following kinds of livestock from one property to another within the Northern Territory (NT):

• alpacas, camels and llamas
• cattle and buffalo
• deer
• goats
• pigs
• sheep.

If you want to move horses, you don't need a waybill.

A waybill is a record of livestock movement. When you move livestock, the waybill travels with the stock from where they're picked up - the property of origin - to the destination property where they're delivered.

Waybills must:

• be signed by the original owner of the livestock or their representative
• travel with the livestock
• be filled in by the truck driver in the appropriate section after loading at the property of origin and on arrival at the destination
• be handed to the new owner of the livestock or their representative.

Filling in a waybill

A waybill is a form you must fill in with all of the following information:

• the name of the new owner
• the name, address and PIC of the destination property the livestock are being moved to
• last access to water
• the species, type and number of animals
• brands of animals
• whether stock have National Livestock Identification System devices.

See an example of how to fill in a waybill PDF (473.4 KB).

What a waybill is for

Waybills record livestock details and movement information in the NT.

It's an important part of the National Livestock Identification System and provides information to support livestock traceability.

The system also acts as a deterrent to stock stealing, proves the property of origin to abattoirs and export markets, and provides detailed documentation for station management.

Keeping copies

A copy of each waybill must be kept by the original owner of the livestock, the company or person taking delivery of the livestock and the registrar. You must keep all copies for at least 3 years.

When you move stock:

• the original white copy travels with the livestock, is carried by the truck driver and given to the owner of livestock or representative upon arrival at the destination
• the pink duplicate must either be posted or handed in by the livestock owner within 28 days of the stock being moved to the livestock biosecurity office in your region, or a clear digital copy of the waybill can be emailed to the relevant email contacts below:
  • Darwin.waybills@nt.gov.au
  • Katherine.waybills@nt.gov.au
  • Tennant.waybills@nt.gov.au
  • Alice.waybills@nt.gov.au
• the green duplicate must be kept at the property of origin.

Where to get waybill forms

Waybills are sold in books of 50.

Find out how to order waybill books.

If you are a cattle producer in the Northern Territory you must brand all livestock more than eight months old before they are moved off a property.

You can apply for permission to move unbranded livestock over eight months old by writing to the brands registrar at livestock biosecurity.

For more information read brand and identify livestock.

If you want to bring interstate livestock into the Northern Territory (NT) you must follow specific procedures for all of the species of animals in the table below.

Movement conditions for Johne's disease changed on 1 July 2017. Read more about the National Johne's disease program.

Sheep are subject to disease controls and can only be brought into the NT with written permission from the chief inspector of livestock at livestock biosecurity. If approved, you must then follow the conditions in the permit.

You must get a wildlife permit from NT Parks and Wildlife for deer, llama, alpaca and crocodiles as well as following the other marked requirements.

Note: n/a in the table below stands for not applicable, meaning the marked requirement does not apply to that species.

You do not need a permit to move pigs, pigeons and poultry.

Health certificate and waybill for moving livestock into the NT

Some species of livestock entering the NT must have a health certificate. If entering from Western Australia, Queensland or New South Wales, the certificate must be endorsed by an inspector of livestock.

You must have a health certificate for cattle and buffalo, alpacas, camels, deer, llamas, goats, horses and sheep.

You need a health certificate and waybill specific to the type of animal. In some cases livestock will need to be tested and treated to stop Johne's disease or cattle ticks being brought into the NT.

Health certificate and waybill forms

Use the following species-specific forms:

• cattle and buffalo DOCX (66.2 KB)
  cattle and buffalo PDF (267.7 KB)
• deer, camels, alpacas and llamas DOCX (50.5 KB)
  deer, camels, alpacas and llamas PDF (636.9 KB)
• goats DOCX (64.3 KB)
  goats PDF (659.2 KB)
• horses DOCX (60.8 KB)
  horses PDF (704.7 KB)
• sheep DOCX (60.1 KB)
  sheep PDF (992.1 KB).

For instructions about how to fill in the form, read the Agnote health certificates and waybills for cattle entering the NT PDF (133.6 KB).

Property identification code

Every NT property where livestock are kept must have a property identification code (PIC). Read more about PICs and how to get one.

For more information on the movement of livestock from interstate to NT, call a biosecurity officer or the principal livestock regulatory officer at livestock biosecurity on 08 8973 9703.

NLIS devices

Read about the National Livestock Identification System and how to order devices or transaction tags.

If you want to move livestock from the Northern Territory (NT) to other parts of Australia, you must follow the entry rules for each state.

Check each state's specific entry rules from the following websites:

• Victoria
• New South Wales
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• Tasmania.

Follow the rules for moving livestock

On 1 July 2016, the National Johne's disease program was introduced to manage Johne's disease in cattle.

For more information, get the Johne's disease: livestock movement requirements fact sheet PDF (819.0 KB).

There are rules for moving livestock  from one state to another through the Northern Territory (NT).

Livestock owner responsibilities

If you are the livestock owner you must do all of the following :

• meet the relevant species requirements for moving livestock into the NT
• fill in an NT health certificate and waybill, completing all relevant sections with the destination being an NT property - eg: Katherine Cattle Yards - get the health certificate and waybill PDF (267.7 KB) form and explanatory notes for cattle entering the NT
• provide a property identification code for both property of origin and destination
• send a copy of all the relevant documents to your relevant livestock biosecurity office
• have a signed/endorsed health certificate for the receiving state - read more about moving livestock out of the NT.

NT spelling facility responsibilities

If your livestock are being spelled at a property in the NT on the way through the Territory, the spelling facility must do all of the following:

• obtain the NT health certificate and waybill
• complete National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) transfers of cattle
• attach NLIS devices or transaction tags to animals that don't have one
• issue a completed NT waybill from the spelling facility when the livestock depart.

If you're a livestock exporter, there are Federal laws you must follow to send animals out of the country.

The Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF):

• is responsible for the live animal export trade and
• sets the conditions and welfare standards for exporting livestock.

For information, go to the Australian Government's DAFF website.

There are rules about animal welfare you must follow if you own or work with animals. This applies to farmers, livestock transporters, livestock exporters and saleyard staff.

You must provide for the needs of animals under your care and you face penalties for neglect, cruelty, abandonment and failure to provide food, water and shelter.

The same rules apply for transporters and sellers.

It's important for pastoralists in the Northern Territory (NT) to make sure animals are provided with food and water at all times, particularly during prolonged dry spells.

Read more about livestock welfare and land transport standards.

The land transport standards

The NT has national standards to ensure the welfare of livestock being transported by road.

The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines - Land Transport of Livestock, LTS for short, applies to anyone responsible for livestock while they are being transported. This includes agents, owners, transporters and receivers.

There are two parts to the LTS:

• general standards and guidelines that apply to all stock
• standards for individual species.

Read an overview of the LTS PDF (50.4 KB).

Welfare standards

You must follow the standards for all of the following aspects of livestock transport and handling, including:

• maximum permitted time without water
• minimum spell period, with water, food and rest, once livestock reach the maximum permitted time without water
• extension of journey time where feed and water is provided in-transit
• restrictions on the use of electric prodders in certain species or classes of animal
• restrictions on the use of dogs in certain species or classes of animal
• segregation of certain classes of stock.

Welfare guidelines

The guidelines are recommended practices to ensure animal welfare for all of the following aspects of stock  transport:

• considerations for long distance travel and fitness
• food and water
• loading density
• vehicles and facilities
• handling
• humane destruction methods.

Standards and guidelines for different species

All of the following NT standards and guidelines are based on the national welfare standards for individual species.

Guidance for stock handlers

If you are a stock handler or manager all of the following standards and guidelines you must follow national welfare standards:

For agents

• land transport standards DOCX (64.8 KB)
• land transport standards PDF (252.0 KB)

For livestock owners

• land transport standards DOCX (69.1 KB)
• land transport standards PDF (248.7 KB)

For truck drivers

• land transport standards DOCX (68.7 KB)
• land transport standards PDF (251.9 KB)

For yard managers

• land transport standards  DOCX (140.9 KB)
• land transport standards  PDF (467.3 KB)

Make a livestock welfare complaint

If you want to make a complaint about livestock welfare you can make a complaint to the Animal Welfare branch. Read how to report animal cruelty or neglect.

More information

The following publications and websites provide further information about how to select and care for livestock that are being transported:

• Meat and Livestock Australia website
• Meat and Livestock Australia's national guide to the selection of animals fit to transport PDF (1.5 MB)
• cattle - feeding livestock in temporary holding facilities in the NT part 1 PDF (45.3 KB) - Agnote
• horses - feeding livestock in temporary holding facilities in the NT part 2 PDF (69.1 KB) - Agnote
• animal welfare guidelines for animals in poor condition: sheep and cattle PDF (376.6 KB).

The land transport standards (LTS) specify how long you can leave transported animals without water, and how long they must be spelled for once that time limit is reached - eg: after 48 hours without water cattle over six months old must be spelled for 36 hours.

Read more about livestock welfare and LTS.

The table below lists the time off water and spelling periods for stock covered by the LTS: cattle, buffalo, camels, horses, goats, sheep and pigs.

Waybills must be completed when moving stock in the Northern Territory (NT).

They can be ordered online and are sold in books of 50. The maximum number of books you can order is 2.

You can apply online at Territory Services.

Apply online

Other ways to apply

To make an order by email, fill in and submit the below form to ntpic.brands@nt.gov.au.

Waybill order form PDF (694.7 KB)
Waybill order form DOCX (63.1 KB)

Who can apply

You must have a registered property identification code (PIC) to order a waybill book.

How long it takes

Orders are processed within 5 business days.

What you need

You will need all of the following:

• property details including a primary contact and PIC
• credit or debit card (Mastercard or Visa) if you’re ordering online.

Fees

Each book costs $27 (including GST).

If you order online, payment will be taken at the end of the application.

After you order

Books can be sent to a postal address or picked up from your nearest Livestock Biosecurity office.

Non-online applications

If you are collecting your book in person, you can pay when you collect. Payment options for each office are:

• Berrimah Farm (Darwin) – credit card only
• Katherine Research Station (Katherine) – credit card, cheque or cash
• Arid Zone Research Institute (Alice Springs) – cheque or cash
• Tennant Creek – call the office to confirm.

Cheque payments should be made out to ‘Receiver of Territory Monies’.

Other ways to pay

• Cash, debit or credit card – pay in person at or over the phone to a Receiver of Territory Monies (RTM) office. You’ll need to bring or email your form.
• Cheque – present your form in person or via post to an RTM and include a cheque made out to ‘Receiver of Territory Monies’.

Get help

Contact your local Livestock Biosecurity office.

The below table lists the people who are accredited to test for pregnancy in feeder and slaughter cattle that are being exported.