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Proposed changes to the Code of Welfare for Sheep and Beef Cattle

About this consultation

The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) consulted on proposed changes to how sheep and beef cattle are farmed in New Zealand.

NAWAC reviewed the existing code of welfare for sheep and beef cattle and sought your feedback. The committee proposed several updates to minimum standards and recommendations for best practice.

Submissions closed at 5pm on 15 July 2025.

Consultation document

Proposed changes to the Code of Welfare: Sheep and Beef Cattle [PDF, 750 KB]

Related documents and information

NAWAC Code of Welfare for Sheep and Beef Cattle [PDF, 1.1 MB]

NAWAC Code of Welfare Evaluation Report [PDF, 1.2 MB]

Find out about NAWAC

What was proposed?

Proposed changes to the code included:

  • incorporating dairy sheep into the code
  • amended behavioural provisions for sheep and beef cattle
  • new minimum standards for animals in off-paddock facilities and feedlots.

NAWAC also proposed a regulation to prohibit the use of electro-immobilisation devices.

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

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