Threat to block sheep exports

THE Federal Government is threatening to block the export of 65,000 live sheep to the Middle East by a company that lost 2400 sheep in “shocking” conditions on a similar voyage last year.

The latest shipment is due to leave Fremantle on Tuesday, transporting the sheep to Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar by the end of the month.

But the Agriculture Department intervened yesterday after it was shown footage from activist group Animals Australia recorded on a voyage by the company, Emanuel Exports, last year.

In a letter to the company, the department said it had “serious concerns” about the health and welfare of sheep during several trips in 2017.

The department said large numbers of sheep had suffered from heat stress, were not able to access food and water, and had been stuck in crowded pens.

Sick and injured sheep were not treated or euthanised, the management of removing dead animals was deemed “insufficient” and there was a “significant build-up of animal waste” on the ship’s decks.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said he was “shocked and gutted” by the treatment of the sheep.

“This is the livelihood of Australian farmers that are on that ship,” he said. “This is their pride and joy, and this is total bulls... that what I saw has taken place.”

The department told Emanuel Exports that it could not send next week’s shipment of 65,000 sheep and 250 cattle without its approval.

It asked for the company to submit a plan to reduce the density of sheep on board, increase ventilation, provide adequate food and water, improve the condition of the decks and ensure there were more vets and crew members on the journey.

The department also demanded an independent observer be allowed to travel on the ship to provide daily visual reports of the conditions.

The Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council said this week that conditions on last year’s deadly trip were “highly distressing and unacceptable”.

Emanuel Exports managing director Graham Daws said it was “devastating” and that it had made changes over the past six months to improve its practices.