Live export a cruel and unnecessary trade
IT was wonderful to read ( TB, 12/ 02/ 18) of the attempt by kayakers to save the life of a steer who made a break for freedom during the loading of the live export ship, the Dareen on Friday evening.
Their compassion and concern for the welfare of this desperate animal, who would have been swimming for many hours before the unsuccessful rescue attempt on Saturday morning, was heartening.
But what of the other animals who did not make a break for freedom and are now crammed onto a “converted” container ship, capacity 8000 cattle, heading for feedlots and slaughter in Indonesia?
Should we not be concerned for their welfare? Is it right that after the stress of a long road trip, they spend eight days at sea just so they can be killed in another country?
While it is unlikely people are going to stop eating beef in the short term, perhaps in the future that will happen. Until then, surely it would be better for the animals ( and also for local jobs and export earnings) for them to die here and be spared further suffering.
We have an export meatworks which previously employed around 600 people but it is closed. Exports of beef and veal in 201617 earned $ 7.1 billion compared to $ 1.2 for live cattle, so there are economic benefits in sending the cattle overseas as boxed beef.
While in the past lack of refrigeration in importing countries was seen as a barrier to exporting boxed beef, this is certainly no longer the case, especially for shipments going to Indonesia which is also importing large amounts of frozen buffalo meat from India. Last year over 200,000 cattle left the Port of Townsville for slaughter in Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines and so far this year six ships have loaded cattle for export to China, Vietnam and Indonesia.
It’s time for our city to end its association with this shameful trade in animal cruelty. If the animals are to be killed for human consumption it must be at local meatworks.
JENNY BROWN, Douglas.