WA’s first animal welfare course targeted at shearing teams is set to roll out this year. The Wool Harvesting Industry Animal Welfare Course will be delivered across the State through Australian Wool Innovation, targeting woolgrowers, shearing contractors and shed staff. Mr French told the WA Shearing Industry Association annual meeting on January 17 that national uptake of the course had exceeded 1000 participants. “It’s important to be conscious of animal welfare, some people feel they are separated from the animal, they must be made aware they have a connection to the sheep,” he said. “With social media and animal welfare splinter groups, we have to be at our game.”The course covers quality assurance schemes for animal welfare, Australian sheep handling standards, minimum welfare requirements relevant to individual roles, appropriate equipment selection and calm sheep handling techniques for shearers and shed staff.