Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan has welcomed a commitment to upgrade the Boyanup Saleyards today, as part of a new 10-year lease agreement.
The upgrades were made conditional by the Shire of Capel in renewing the lease agreement with saleyard operators, Nutrien and Elders.
Animal welfare is a high priority for the McGowan Government, which has worked closely with the saleyard operators to improve processes and infrastructure at the facility.
Improvements already underway include reduced penning densities and the attendance of a private veterinarian on hot days, a hospital pen and sawdust in yards, as well as altering the start time on sale days to avoid extreme heat.
The McGowan Government has also purchased data loggers to monitor environmental conditions to aid pen management and is funding an automated weather station to be installed with real time data available to industry to inform animal welfare decisions on sale days.
The new lease agreement includes pen shade, electrical, waste management and pen upgrades, as well as improvements to vehicle access, flooring and new ablution facilities.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is providing heat stress awareness training to all staff at the saleyards to improve animal management.
The saleyard operators' upgrades will provide livestock producers, industry stakeholders and consumers with confidence in the facility's animal welfare measures.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"Animal welfare is of utmost importance to our Government and the Western Australian community, and we are working with the saleyard operators to improve the Boyanup facility and operations.
"These investments will help to ensure appropriate animal welfare conditions at Boyanup, particularly at high-risk times of the year.
"DPIRD compliance officers continue to inspect conditions and animals at Boyanup on sale days and will monitor critical control points at the facility."
