Al Messilah sheep won’t suffer unduly due to virus — Agri EC

Agri Eastern Cape said it was confident sheep on the Al Messilah stock carrier vessel that fell ill with the orf virus while on their way to the Middle East from East London would not suffer unduly.

Agri EC chief executive Brent McNamara said this week the veterinarian on board the vessel had been supplied with medication to treat the virus. “He will administer the medication on board if any cases arise during the voyage.

“We are comfortable that any identified cases en route will be dealt with in isolation and treated promptly,” he said.

“The on-board stockperson, observer and veterinarian are responsible for performing health checks on all animals at least three times a day, as well as continuous supervision by the staff of the Al Messilah.

“This practice enables them to prevent any kind of outbreak, and aids in the isolation of infected animals.

“Infected sheep will be moved to designated hospital pens until they have recovered.”

McNamara said complementing this regime, 30 sheep identified with orf at the East London feedlot were removed for treatment and, while they would recover completely, they were not loaded.

“So we are satisfied the animals on the Al Messilah will not suffer unduly.”

Agri EC was commenting in the wake of concerns raised by the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) that sheep from the infected Al Mawashi feedlot might get sick during the voyage to the Middle East.

A total of 51,000 sheep, bound for abattoirs in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, were loaded at the East London Harbour onto the Al Messilah on April 3. The NSPCA, which has been battling for years to stop the export of live animals to overseas slaughterhouses, said orf could last up to four weeks.

Affected animals could go off their feed and might develop secondary infections, causing them undue suffering.

McNamara said the NSPCA had got it wrong.

“Orf clears within three days with proper treatment, ensuring all animals will arrive healthy at their destination.

“Sheep that have recovered from natural infection are highly resistant to reinfection.”

He said orf was a member of the Poxvirus family, and clinical signs were sores typically on the lips, muzzle and mouth of the animal.

“It is common worldwide and is present throughout the farming environment, even in disease-free countries like Australia.”

He believed the NSPCA had sought to sensationalise the matter.

“Monitoring and testing by both state and private veterinarians took place.

“Of the 51,000 sheep loaded, 30 were identified beforehand and removed — not 6,000 as media quoted the NSPCA.”

Al Mawashi acting managing director Sake van der Wal said the Al Messilah had 10 decks.