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99pc of live exports arrive fit and healthy

29 Jun, 2009 02:33 PM

The latest mortality figures for the live export industry show that more than 99 per cent of animals shipped overseas arrive at their destination fit and healthy, according to Meat and Livestock Australia and LiveCorp.

The 2008 national livestock export industry shipboard performance report summarises the performance of the livestock export industry in terms of mortality levels of sheep, cattle and goats exported by sea from Australia during 2008, and provides a breakdown by species and major destinations.

The report found:

The overall mortality rate for sheep during sea transport to all destinations during 2008 was 0.84pc out of approximately 4.2 million sheep exported (99.16pc success rate). This was an improvement on the 0.97pc mortality rate observed in 2007.

The overall mortality rate among the 0.86 million cattle exported from Australia in 2008 was 0.12pc (99.88pc success rate). This was slightly higher than the 0.10pc mortality rate observed in 2007.

The overall mortality rate on voyages to the Middle East/North Africa was 0.29pc in 2008, a rise from 0.19pc in 2007.

The overall mortality rate among the 3118 goats exported by sea from Australia in 2008 was 0.51pc (99.49pc success rate), which was an improvement on the 0.69pc observed in 2007. All goats exported by sea during 2008 went to South-East Asia.

"Our industry is committed to transparency – we want the people of Australia to see how we're doing in terms of animal welfare and the good outcomes we're continuing to deliver for Australian livestock," LiveCorp chief executive Cameron Hall said.

"We're investing in ongoing improvements in Australia, onboard vessels and in overseas marketplaces and we're really making a difference.

"Australian stockmen on board all voyages, with accredited Australian vets on all vessels to the Middle East, monitor and care for the livestock along with a crew who also ensures all animals are well fed, watered and in good condition.

"The pens the animals travel in provide enough room for all livestock to move around, lie down and access the constantly available food and water. Any animal that is sick or injured is placed into a hospital pen and given extra care.

"Animal welfare is a priority for our industry – and we are renowned as being the best in the world at what we do. That’s something to be proud of."

Meat and Livestock Australia & LiveCorp

Source: http://www.mla.com.au

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comments

Date: Newest first | Oldest first

Well done Cameron Hall and well done MLA and LiveCorp for an outstanding job! This is a good news story for live exports and a good news story for Australia and its livestock producers. We are achieving outstanding results and with strong industry commitment to animal welfare we will continue to do so. The Australian Government has also strongly supported joint initiatives that improve animal welfare - good on the govt as well. No doubt the animal rights groups will criticise, but no matter what positive outcomes result, they never have a good word to say which is a genuine shame. They could be adding to the progress. They should be acknowledged for recent positive work to improve cattle slaughter in Jordan. That's the sort of input that makes a difference for the benefit of animals and Australia's livestock industry. All groups should acknowledge the importance of this valuable trade and work together to make improvements. Constant criticism achieves nothing. Keep up the fantastic work. You are clearly making progress and improving net global animal welfare.

Posted by Tony, 30/06/2009 8:27:09 AM

If animal welfare was a priority for your industry, you might be more concerned about the torment and agony that many of these animal go through once they arrive at their destination. Animal welfare doesn't end at the farm gate or ship gate, it follows the whole process.

Posted by Andy, 30/06/2009 9:08:18 AM

What a successful year 2008 was for live exporters. Only! 0.84% of 4.2 million i.e. 35,280 sheep were dead before or on arrival. How many have to die before the perpetrators of this insidous action are prosecuted under the WA Animal Cruelty Act 2002.

Posted by steffi, 30/06/2009 3:43:22 PM

Cameron Hall - something to be proud of? What, Australia being a country that is responsible for inflicting horrendous cruelty to millions of live exported animals. Animal welfare is not just looking at how many of these unfortunate animals have supposedly arrived at their destination fit and well. In reality the barbaric cruelty continues once these animals have been delivered. But, of course, that obviously is of no concern to the greedy supporters of the live export trade.

Posted by Olivia, 1/07/2009 1:45:40 PM

Some years ago when we renovated our house we found a 1937 news paper. In 1937 Mister Hilter was the saviour of the German people! Wool was 27 pound a bale and sheep were selling for 3 pound. What's that worth today? Well in that that same paper was an ad for an Akurbra hat, price 1 pound. What's an Akurba worth today? Do the sums to work out the value of a bale of wool and a sheep. It's been a long time coming but the over supply of food is slowly turning into an under supply. So anyone who thinks $100 is too much for a sheep do the sums and brace yourself.

Posted by Qlander, 1/07/2009 3:04:40 PM

Olivia, supporters of the live export trade are just like all other bottom feeders, they dredge a living derived from the cruelty and pain inflicted on other creatures. No normal sane person would be proud of a practice than has resulted in the intentional death of 432,259 sheep from 2000 - 2008. One wonders how much political donation results from allowing the trade to continue. I very much doubt the National Party would own up to party funds sourced from live export companies.

Posted by steffi, 1/07/2009 4:17:31 PM

Less then 1% is good. It's less then any farm of any scale bigger then a back yard. Sheep die in the wet, in the dry and when it's windy. They are very good at this. Compared to child mortality rates across Africa our sheep are still looked after better.

Posted by The Farmer, 1/07/2009 4:37:24 PM

Replying to "The Farmer", how can the death and loss of a valuable commodity such as a well-grown wether be good?

Sheep die in the wet because you shear the poor buggers in June/July/Aug, the wettest and coldest time in the sheep populated areas of Australia.

Farmers should have to pass a test in flock health and management before being allowed to run sheep.

Posted by steffi, 1/07/2009 6:55:20 PM

I shear in late October, Steffi, and we can't all shear at the same time - there are just not enough Kiwis to go around.

If you have never been on a farm you won't believe the inventive ways Merinos will find to kill themselves - turkeys are smarter. Like people who die during seasonal changes, do you believe sheep are immune because you want them to be?

F.Y.I more sheep die to non seasonal rain events in summer and autumn.

Posted by The Farmer, 2/07/2009 11:43:54 AM

Why wouldn't Meat & Livestock Australia and Live Corp say 99 pc of live exports arrive fit and healthy when they are profiting from these animals lives so it is in their own interest to do so?

The improvements they speak of cannot alter the inherent problems of long distance travel-fear and stress unnatural diet and dangers of the sea. And the improvements can't influence what happens to animals when they are in these countries.

How can a single vet who is in charge of up to and sometimes more than 100.000 animals be able to treat all sick animals? A single veterinarian/or stockman can't change the most serious problems on livestock vessels.

Nor can these people influence the treatment of animals when they are unloaded in an importing country.

Posted by Kathleen, 3/07/2009 3:08:52 PM

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