Animal Welfare Risks in Live Cattle Export from Australia to China by Sea

Abstract

There are long-standing and ongoing concerns about the welfare of animals in the Australian live export trade by sea. However, scrutiny of animal welfare on board vessels is generally hindered by a lack of independent reporting. Cattle voyages from Australia to China have concerned animal welfare advocates due to their long duration and lack of consistent veterinary oversight. In April 2018, following a media exposé of animal cruelty and declining public trust, the Australian government installed Independent Observers on some live export voyages. Summaries of Independent Observer (IO) reports by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) provided a new and independent source of information about management of animals in the live export trade. The IO summaries on live cattle export voyages to China for the period July 2018 to December 2019 (n = 37) were reviewed. The IO summaries detailed voyages that carried 147,262 slaughter, feeder or breeder cattle which included both dairy and beef breeds. The long-haul voyages averaged 20 days in duration, generally departing the ports of Fremantle and Portland and discharging at ports in northern China. Key animal welfare risk factors identified in the IO summaries included: hunger, thirst, exposure to extreme temperatures, poor pen conditions, health issues, absence of veterinarians, rough seas, poor ship infrastructure, mechanical breakdown and mismanagement at discharge.

Zoonotic Disease Risks of Live Export of Cattle and Sheep, with a Focus on Australian Shipments to Asia and the Middle East

“…Temporary starvation is a common response to long-distance transport by sea, with sheep often not feeding for the period that they spend in an assembly feedlot (usually about 5 days) before loading [ 45 , 46 ] and in the early stages of the sea voyage [ 47 ]. As well, many ships carry inadequate feed supplies and have to ration livestock, sometimes reducing feed provision by as much as 36% of the recommended allowances [ 48 ]. This is likely to increase the proportion of human pathogens, such as E. coli O157, in the animals’ microbiome [ 27 ].…”

“…At such high stocking densities, sheep typically stand with their head facing the floor for long periods [ 63 ]. In cattle transported to China, shipments from Australia rarely meet OIE standards for space requirements [ 48 ].…”