A conference focusing on the driving a healthier livestock trade will be held in Bunbury this weekend.
Welfare at all levels of the chain, from driver to supplier to animal, will take centre stage at the upcoming Livestock & Rural Transport Association of WA annual conference.
It will also review issues including access for permanent vehicles, extra mass issues, animal welfare and attracting a labour force into country areas.
Brunswick farmer and association member Mark Talbot is a staunch advocate for rural and regional economies and, as a fourth generation beef farmer, a vocal proponent for animal welfare.
“Animal welfare and driver welfare are probably our highest priorities,” he said.
“They’re up there together. I have a passion for livestock, so I care about the cattle.
“I care about what we do and my staff are the same – we all have that same passion for making sure we do the job right.”
The owner operator has been running Wedderburn Transport, his livestock and rural transport business, for over 20 years.
Two decades ago, he began designing and constructing his own trailers and stock crates.
“I’ve always had an interest in design and building equipment and with a farming background you become a jack of all trades,” he said.
“I started looking at a lot of the equipment that was being used and I could just see the shortfalls in it.”
Mark went on to employ a boilermaker to assist with construction while he did the design.
Together they built their first stock crate, combining all that they had learnt to create something that suited the business.
“It’s very important to maintain your local community and keep it healthy. And the one way we can do that is by buying local as much as we can,” he said.
“In many rural areas we see the impact of a small business closing down and the flow on effects on the community.
“Multinationals don’t support rural areas, I’ve seen it here in Bunbury – big companies buy out small companies and the local businesses are the big losers.
“The companies bring in supplies and even fuel from Perth or from over east, yet we need these companies to support local as well.”
For more information, visit lrtawa.org.au/conference.
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