Livestock as companion animals in Queensland
Whether you’re looking to acquire livestock—such as sheep, goats, pigs, cattle or horses—for production or as a hobby, there are important considerations to ensure you meet your welfare and biosecurity requirements.
Keeping livestock
Check with your local government authority before bringing livestock onto your property. Rules and approvals for keeping livestock of any type, breed or number may apply.
Other factors that may influence the decision to own livestock may include:
- your reason for owning livestock, e.g. for income, pasture management or pleasure
- your level of knowledge and skill to manage the animal/s
- the time you have to manage them.
Acquiring livestock
Ensure any livestock comes from a reputable seller and you are satisfied with the animal’s health status. Check for vaccinations and worm and external parasite treatments and seek a full medical history.
You should also ensure you have prepared your property and have adequate resources to care for livestock. Consider housing, equipment, dietary needs and whether you have support from professionals such as a veterinarian, should it be required.
Your biosecurity responsibilities
In the event of an emergency animal disease, knowing where animals are kept and who has care and control of them is fundamental to traceability and disease containment.
National Livestock Identification System (NLIS)
All cattle, sheep, goats and pigs must be fitted with an approved NLIS device before being moved and all movements must be reported to the NLIS database within 48 hours of the livestock arriving at the destination.
Biosecurity entity registration
You are required to register as a biosecurity entity with Biosecurity Queensland if you keep:
- 1 or more head of horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, buffalo, deer or camelids (camels, llamas, alpaca)
- 100 or more poultry, including caged birds
- a beehive (excluding native bees).
You must register even if you don’t own the land where you keep your livestock.
Update your registration if your circumstances change, including your contact information or the location where you keep your livestock.
Property identification codes (PICs)
When you register, you will be issued a property identification code or PIC. This code relates to the land where you keep your livestock, which may differ from your residential address.
Your PIC is part of a nationally operated system allowing livestock to be traced throughout Australia if an animal disease outbreak incident occurs.
Preventing disease
Livestock can carry a wide range of infectious diseases and internal and external parasites. Many of these diseases can spread to other livestock and some can spread to other animals and people.
You should:
- consult a veterinarian about vaccinations, parasite treatments and suitable husbandry and feeding practices
- practice good biosecurity and hygiene to protect your livestock.
- Ensure items and equipment that come into contact with your livestock, including clothing and footwear, are clean and free from pests and diseases.
- Prevent visitors from having unnecessary contact with your animals.
- Consider other ways pests and diseases may be introduced such as vermin and insects and take steps to reduce risks.
- Ensure new animals are carefully screened before introducing them to your existing flock.
Livestock owners are best placed to identify signs of illness or disease in their animals. Early detection and reporting are vital to the prevention or rapid containment of an emergency animal disease, such as foot-and-mouth disease or African swine fever.
Report suspected cases of emergency animal diseases to your veterinarian and the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888 immediately.
Moving livestock
Ensure that you understand the laws for moving animals into or within Queensland. Different laws apply for: