As livestock arrive from farms into quarantine feedlots, they are inspected against the buying requirements. Any animals not suitable are immediately removed and rejected from the export consignment. Any rejected animals are marked, treated if required, and kept separate from the other animals in quarantine.

After receival into the quarantine feedlot, livestock will be drafted (separated) into groups based on weights, sex, and breed so ‘like with like’ livestock are together. This is required for careful planning and preparation of the vessel load plan.

Sheep are kept in their drafted lines in sheds or paddocks and provided access to the same feed they will be provided on the vessel. During drafting any sheep with wool length longer than 20 – 25mm will be removed and shorn. The drafting process also allows for further separation of any sheep not suitable for export.

Likewise, cattle are kept in pens based on their drafted lines, and provided access to the same feed as provided on the vessel.