Livestock in Transit Insurance
Dedicated Livestock in Transit cover for rma network Members and their clients, helping protect livestock while they are being moved between properties, saleyards, buyers and vendors across Australia.
Overview
Livestock in Transit cover for Members
Livestock movements are a routine part of business for many rma network Members and their clients. This cover provides an efficient way to insure livestock while they are being transported between locations.
RMA Insurance Brokers makes this cover available to rma network Members and their clients through NTI Insurance. This page brings together the key cover information, when it applies and the documents and resources Members need when arranging Livestock in Transit cover.
Cover & limits
What does the cover include?
The NTI Policy covers a range of insured events during transit, provided the livestock are in a reasonable state of health and fit for transport.
MLA Fit to Load videoInsured events
Death, physical injury & humane slaughter
Cover includes death or physical injury to insured livestock during the insured transit, including slaughter for humane reasons.
Cover can also apply where an authorised official orders slaughter because an animal is uncontrollable and considered a danger to public safety, subject to the policy terms.
Escape, theft & non-delivery
Cover can include insured livestock that escape and disappear from an accident site involving the conveying vehicle, as well as theft, pilferage and non-delivery.
Where theft occurs, police must be notified as soon as possible.
Strikes, riots & civil commotion
Cover can include death, physical injury or slaughter of insured livestock arising from strikers, locked-out workers, people taking part in labour disturbances, riots or civil commotion.
Wilful acts by third parties
Cover can include loss arising from a wilful act of a third party, provided the act occurred without the insured's prior knowledge or connivance.
General average & salvage contribution
Cover can include general average sacrifice and/or salvage contribution that the insured is required to pay under a bill of lading or similar document.
Key limits
Livestock
$5,000
any one animal
$350,000
any one loss or series of losses arising from the one event
Stud Stock
Registered (pedigree) livestock used for breeding purposes
$35,000
any one animal
$350,000
Maximum any one loss or series of losses arising from the one event
Excess
NIL
each and every claim and/or occurrence
Scope of cover
Scope
Interest insured: livestock belonging to the insured, or for which the insured has assumed responsibility during transit.
Voyages: transit within Australia, including movement on foot incidental to transit, or loading or unloading in preparation for transit.
Conveyances: transit via sea, road, rail, air or the insured's own vehicles.
Basis of valuation: as per policy wording.
Additional benefits
Extra costs following a covered loss
Following a claim under the policy for which the insurer has agreed to indemnify the insured, cover extends to include certain additional costs and benefits.
Injured livestock. The cost of agisting physically injured livestock to bring them back to their condition prior to the loss, or the agreed depreciation in value if they are sold as injured livestock.
Mustering. The cost of mustering animals, up to 25% of the sum insured of the livestock involved, calculated in accordance with the policy.
Clean-up & disposal. Clean-up and disposal costs at an accident site where the insured is legally or contractually required to pay those costs, up to $50,000 for any one accident or series of accidents arising during any one insured transit.
Additional freight & salvage. Additional freight or salvage charges required to remove livestock from an accident site, including the cost of transporting them to their intended destination or returning them to the place from which they were dispatched.
Minimising further loss. Reasonable costs paid to avoid or minimise further death or injury to the livestock.
Carrier insolvency or financial default. Where the insured transit is interrupted or terminated because of the insolvency or financial default of the carrier, extra freight costs to forward the livestock to their intended destination or return them to the place from which they were dispatched, up to 10% of the sum insured of the livestock, calculated in accordance with the policy.
Terrorism clause. Where loss, damage, liability or expense to insured livestock arises from Terrorism, cover is conditional on the livestock being in the ordinary course of an insured transit.
When cover applies
When the transit cover starts and finishes
The NTI Transit Insurance Schedule sets out when cover starts, continues and ends for different livestock movements. The key points are summarised below.
When cover starts
When cover starts depends on why the livestock is being moved:
Purchased at auction or online auction: cover commences from the time ownership is acquired.
Sent to auction: cover commences when each animal enters the conveyance or its loading ramp for the commencement of the insured transit.
Sold privately: cover commences when each animal enters the conveyance or its loading ramp for the commencement of the insured transit.
Purchased privately: cover commences when each animal enters the conveyance or its loading ramp for the commencement of the insured transit.
Moved for agistment or consignment to an abattoir: cover commences when each animal enters the conveyance or its loading ramp for the commencement of the insured transit.
While livestock are in transit
Insurance continues during the ordinary course of transit and for up to seven days whilst the insured livestock are being transhipped or are being spelled.
If the insured livestock are not sold, cover continues during the return transit to the insured's property.
When cover ends
When cover ends depends on the destination of the transit:
Auction or online auction: cover ends at the fall of hammer.
Abattoir: cover ends from the time the animals are positioned on the weighing scales following discharge from the conveying vehicle, and will not extend beyond 72 hours after arrival of the conveying vehicle at the abattoir.
Feed lots: cover ends from the time the animals enter the preparation feed lot.
All other destinations: cover ends from the time each animal is unloaded into the paddock at the final destination, and will not extend beyond 48 hours after arrival of the conveying vehicle at the final destination.
Drought-declared areas
The policy covers livestock being transported from drought-declared areas subject to:
- a declaration by the rma network Member that they have inspected the livestock and that they are fit for travel, and
- a copy of the declaration being supplied with the monthly declaration.
If a claim occurs
A claim form is required for:
- claims over $4,000 for sheep
- claims over $10,000 for cattle
- any claim involving a road accident
- any claim involving theft
Each and every claim is subject to retention and production, where required, of documentary evidence in support of the claim.
Exclusions
What is not covered?
The policy includes exclusions that can affect how cover responds. Key exclusions include:
- Bloodstock, being Thoroughbred (pedigree) horses bred and kept for racing or breeding for racing
- Loss of market or consequential loss
- Failure to pass tests or examinations, inoculation and its after effects
- Slaughter due to infectious disease at government or authority direction
- Loss of fetus
- Loss of use of any description
- Shortage or disappearance discovered during periodic stock take
- Cost of fumigation and quarantine
This is not a complete list. Review the policy wording for the full terms, conditions and exclusions.
Member resources
Livestock in Transit resources
These resources bring together the key documents, practical guidance and learning material Members need for Livestock in Transit cover.
- NTI Livestock Policy WordingThe current NTI policy wording sets out the full terms, conditions, limits and exclusions that apply to the cover.
- NTI Transit Insurance ScheduleThe Transit Insurance Schedule sets out the Member-specific limits and the conditions that apply to when cover starts, continues and ends.View Transit Insurance Schedule
- MLA Fit to Load videoWatch MLA's Fit to Load video for practical guidance on assessing whether livestock are fit for transport.Watch Fit to Load video
- Livestock in Transit knowledge checkRefresh your understanding of the Livestock in Transit cover with the optional knowledge check.Start the knowledge check
Member arrangement
Access the Livestock in Transit Member arrangement
rma network Members can access dedicated Livestock in Transit cover through RMA Insurance Brokers. If your business would like to participate, we can confirm the requirements, explain how the cover works and help get your office set up.
Related Member insurance
Other specialist insurance for Members to consider
- Stud Stock InsuranceCover for higher-value breeding livestock sold through auction or private sale, with Member-specific underwriting options available.View page about Stud Stock Insurance
- Debtors InsuranceProtection for eligible buyer default, supported by buyer approvals, credit limits and overdue monitoring.View page about Debtors Insurance
The information on this page is general and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether the information is appropriate for you. Cover is subject to the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions of the relevant policy. Insurance products and available cover vary between insurers. Review the relevant policy documentation before making a decision.