THE WA cattle industry is calling for practicality to prevail when it comes to proposed new animal welfare standards and guidelines.
The set of standards and guidelines are set to replace the current codes of practice and are still in the initial stages of development.
WA Lot Feeders Association president Trevor Hinck said from a feedlotters perspective the document was not a concern, but there were some technical issues with the standards.
He said bureaucracy and red tape could make the standards and guidelines an unworkable regulation.
"I think that is something we need to watch," Mr Hinck said.
"We have to be mindful that we don't overlook the importance of animal welfare but keep a clear head on the issues that face rural producers.
"The implementation of these standards and guidelines must be practical and non-intrusive.
"Intrusion is costly and producers are continually asked to pay the price of that intrusion."
Mr Hinck said he hoped if standards couldn't be met due to extreme circumstances that common sense would prevail.
"In some cases it could be impossible for producers to uphold certain standards and in those instances I would hope a common sense approach would be taken, and generally it is," he said.
"But if not it costs a lot of time, money and effort for producers to prove innocence."
WAFarmers dairy section president Phil Depiazzi also said dairy producers had little to worry about with the standards and guidelines.
He said animal welfare in the dairy industry in WA was exceptional and 99.9 per cent of farmers were already practicing what had been outlined in the document.
"I don't think there are any surprises in there for farmers to worry about, most people are already complying," Mr Depiazzi said.
"All farmers are aware that animal welfare drives productivity and profitability and farmers go out of their way to look after their stock."
Mr Depiazzi said the standards and guidelines could in fact provide some protection for farmers against persecution.
"If they are good, sound and scientifically-based standards then I could see them giving farmers a base and acting as back-up," he said.
WA Beef Council chairman Tony Hiscock said animal welfare was an important issue for customers and the community and the cattle industry had to demonstrate that it was doing the right thing.
He said producers had little to be concerned about with the new standards and guidelines.
"There was nothing really outrageous in the document," Mr Hiscock said.
"When we thought there was ambiguity or we felt the guidelines were too heavy handed we put a submission in to request alterations.
"We wanted to ensure the cattle industry's interests have been invested in."
Mr Hiscock said it was important cattle producers were made aware of what would be required of them before the standards and guidelines are implemented.
"There needs to be a huge level of awareness with this," he said.
"The codes of practice in place at the moment are not enforceable, but the new standards will be.
"Anyone that is openly bucking the system can be prosecuted."
