Guide to livestock transit insurance in NZ — what is covered during transport, at saleyards, and at agricultural events. How to get the right transit cover.
Livestock Transit Insurance in New Zealand
Every time you move livestock off your property, you are exposed to risks that your standard property-based livestock insurance may not cover. Transit insurance fills this critical gap.
The Risks During Transit
Livestock in transit face multiple risk categories:
Road accidents: Stock trucks are involved in accidents every year. Even a minor accident can injure or kill animals on board.
Loading and unloading injuries: The transition between truck and yard is a high-stress period for animals. Injuries and deaths during loading/unloading are more common than many farmers realise.
Heat stress: Livestock in poorly ventilated trucks during hot weather are at serious risk. Summer transport of pigs and poultry in particular requires careful management.
Theft from trucks or yards: Animals can be stolen from trucks parked overnight or from saleyards.
At agricultural events: Animals at shows, A&P events, and field days face crowd stress, disease exposure from other animals, and theft risk.
What Transit Insurance Covers
Standard transit cover includes:
How Long Does Transit Cover Apply?
Transit cover typically begins when animals leave your property and ends when they arrive at the stated destination. Cover continues while the animals are in yards overnight, as long as this is incidental to transit.
For show animals, cover may apply for the entire duration of the event.
Getting Transit Cover
Transit cover is available:
For farmers who regularly move livestock — to saleyards, between properties, to processors, or to shows — transit insurance is worth considering. The per-head cost of cover is typically $10–$50 per head depending on species and value.
