Vets Against Live Export

A group of prominent veterinarians have founded a new organisation focusing on the need to phase out export of live animals for slaughter.

VALE believe that the live export trade for slaughter exposes millions of animals to significant and unnecessary pain, suffering and abuse and that it is important  to correct the public’s impression that all vets support live export.

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EXPLOSIVE STUFF…

LIVE EXPORT SHIP ALLOWED TO SAIL WITHOUT VET OR STOCKMAN

Documents released under Freedom of Information law reveal that in 2008 the veterinarian aboard the MV Hereford Express, carrying animals from Australia to Singapore and Malaysia, was removed from the vessel in Singapore. The veterinarian reported that the mortality limit for goats had been exceeded.

Dr Lloyd Reeve- Johnson was made to leave the ship after AQIS came to an informal (and in VALE’s view, illegal) agreement with the exporter to remove him. The ship then went onto Malaysia without an AQIS- accredited veterinarian on board, which contravened the Approved Export Program (AEP), the core legal provision protecting the welfare of animals onboard live export ships. The AEP required that the onboard veterinarian remain on the vessel until the last animal was unloaded.

Read more  or visit the  VALE  website

 

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LATEST NEWS…

The Australian reports:  TWO live cattle exporters have breached the new animal welfare standards less than 12 months after they were introduced by the Gillard government.

In what is likely to reignite the debate about live cattle exports to Indonesia, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is expected today to release its report on footage showing Australian cattle being mistreated at Indonesian abattoirs in January.

The graphic images — shot covertly by Animals Australia — show distressed cattle being poked with knife sharpeners and tripping in restraining boxes in four Jakarta abattoirs.

The report says two of the abattoirs were Australian-accredited and recommends department secretary Conall O'Connell take "regulatory action" against the North Australian Cattle Company Pty Ltd and International Livestock Export Pty Ltd.  Read the rest.

 

Directors of International Livestock Export Pty Ltd: Graham Richard Daws of Applecross and Michael Anthony Stanton of Cottesloe-no strangers to prior cruelty controversies.

Yes, they are the same people who faced court in relation to charges of animal cruelty in the Al Kuwait cruelty case.

 


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Europe looks at 8 hr transport maximum

1 Million European citizens signed the 8 hr petition calling for long distance trucking of animals destined for their death to an overall limit of 8 hours.

The European Parliament adopted a Written Declaration in support of the 8 hour limit.

 

How does Australia compare?

Australia fails to limit the overall journey time; animals destined for death can be transported for days and days.

During the journey period, the animals can be starved of rest, feed and water for 2 days- thats right 2 DAYS before they are to be given the provisions.

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Animal welfare in Australia is a joke.

It was 42°C (107.6° F) in the shade onThursday 26th January 2012. At a feedlot near Perth West Australia thousands of sheep were loaded into trucks and transported approx 60 minutes to the Port of Fremantle.

The animals remained in the trucks at the Port in the searing heat with little to no breeze for an average 90 minutes before being loaded onto the Ocean Shearer.  

Panting in sheep is a sign that they are enduring immense stress and suffering extreme distress.

On the ship they joined sheep whom had been loaded at Adelaide approx 5 days before.

Australia doesnt have a law regulating transport and handling in high – extreme temperatures.

Australia allows animals to be moved and handled regardless of how blistering hot the day. Given the live export industry is self regulating it appears clear that during a heat wave animal welfare is non existant.   More photos

 

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Sydney Morning Herald live cattle trade index. Excellent background.

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Australia fails to comply with even the very basic OIE recommendations which state that electric shock prodders should not be used on sheep and goats. Footage taken at the Port of Fremantle during late 2010 and 2011.  It seems the use of prodders on animals is part of routine handling…

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