At the recent LIVEXchange conference in Townsville it was all upbeat about industry's new approach to animal welfare. The gob-smackingly awful "Sheep Collective" was praised...well it was lovely to see bedding for the sheep on the ships in Freo for the invited onboard visits ...despite the fact that everyone who knows anything about live ex knows that sheep bedding is not and never will be routine.
But, one medico had an interesting take urging industry to continually look for “black swans”. In medicine and in risk management, black swans are code for “things you can’t see”, Dr Harrison explained – unexpected events whose potential to occur only becomes apparent after they have happened. “Do you have people who have nothing to do with your industry on your board?” Dr Harrison said. “They are going to be the ones to spot black swans.” “It has taken our industry, medicine, 30 years, but I don’t think you have 30 years...It is clear you’re changing but you’ve got to get on with it and you need to answer to independent experts. Hmm....well they could always ask VALE. We get to see and hear a lot of hidden things.....and yeah, there are still plenty of black swans. See: https://www.beefcentral.com/live-export/has-2019-been-a-turning-point-year-for-live-exports/
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Dehumidifiers on live animal export ships wont work.....no surprise. The Tatura Guardian reports that the study found dehumidifiers reduced temperatures and humidity on an empty ship, but were not good enough to help when vessels were filled with sheep....
Nationals senator and veterinarian, Sam McMahon was scathing "It would seem that for $2 million, that could have involved some actual research with some livestock to answer those questions," she said. "It's kind of like sailing an empty ship to the Middle East and saying we achieved zero mortalities." There is also reportedly a four-year $700,000 research project developing animal welfare indicators for live animal exports, due to finish in 2021. Senator McMahon criticised the project, saying two years without a single report wasn't good value for money. "The information that comes out is not worth a cracker if it doesn't stand up to scientific scrutiny," she said. "If it's not published, then there's nothing to indicate there's any value in what came out of the research." It may be worthwhile Dr McMahon requesting a full list of MLA funded livestock studies to assess just how many have resulted in peer-reviewed scientific studies. Instead of acknowledging issues and addressing them, the industry has gone into over-drive on its spin campaign (see video). Depending on one's perspective, this could be viewed as desperately pathetic or totally hilarious.....
We have film producers who are now animal welfare experts: “coming from the outside we could really tell whether the industry was being cruel or whether actually animal welfare was at the centre of every thing they said it was” … hmmm ...for starters, what about that hindlimb lameness on the sheep filmed on the loading ramp?....[check the 1 minute 11 second mark] We have the industry vet stating that is is "all about marketing and media" and that they have "demonstrated through great story telling" that we can change the narrative. And on it goes... Of course the "story" has unravelled somewhat in South Africa with the clear animal welfare abuse documented on the Al Shuwaikh....yep, the vessel shown in The Sheep Collective's storytelling. Note: RETWA is the Australian subsidiary of Livestock Transport and Trading Company. LTTCo operates in Kuwait as Al Mawashi Reference: RETWA Media Release See: NSPCA to lay charges over inhumane export of sheep to middle east The Countryman reports that the agriculture analyst Mercado has produced a live export report, (Do We Need A Long Moratorium?) that found a three-month trade pause might not deliver more benefits than a one-month shipping standstill.
Well isnt that relief.....a financial analyst that can assess animal welfare! ...or can they? Bottom line is that it all comes down to assessment of welfare by mortality and the reduced stocking densities led lower than average mortality rates. So, a seasoned AAV, Mike McCarthy advises the government that animal welfare cant be assessed by mortality alone, nearly every independent observer report on ME voyages describes features of prolonged heat stress but its all fine because they can suffer without dying. ANIMAL MORTALITY is a measure of EXTREME animal welfare issues not a measure of acceptability. How could it be that ag departments the world over care so little for animals and so much for trade? The South African government allowed the Shuwaikh to sail after all....even knowing it will be banned from the Australian trade in a few months due to its double tiers.
NSPCA threw everything at it in an attempt to stop it. They even engaged Dr. Shaun Morris, an experienced veterinarian and feedlot expert in South Africa, to inspect the vessel. Maritime Executive quotes Dr Morris as saying: “Having had an opportunity to attend the unloading on the Al Shuwaikh on Thursday evening and having been granted access to the vessel itself, it was evident that the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development’s (DALRRD) lack of concern and more importantly, their absence at the loading point as well as on the vessel (save for short periods of time), is of serious concern,” said Morris. The NSPCA asked Morris to describe this shipment, and others like it. His response was “disaster.” In a telling comment he apparently stated: “I would describe the role of DALRRD as nothing more than window dressing.” Welcome to our world Dr Morris. See more: maritime-executive.com/article/the-al-shuwaikh-departs-south-africa Well the >30 year old Al Shuwaikh seems as though it has been around forever. The Aust Department of Ag seems to have been perfectly happy with her despite a few high mortality incidents and a few recent unflattering independent observer reports.....but it is double tiered...so wont be allowed in Australia from Jan 2020 (courtesy of AMSA not Ag Dept!).
So it scuttled off to South Africa....but it hasnt met a very warm reception there....and it hasnt been providing a warm welcome either. The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA), on the request of the South African Government, undertook an inspection of the empty Al-Shuwaikh vessel on Sunday, 23 September 2019, and found the vessel to be unsuitable to transport 61 000 sheep – the inspection confirmed that there is cause for major welfare concerns and unavoidable contraventions of the Animals Protection Act No 71 of 1962 and OIE (the World Organisation of Animal Health of which South Africa is a member) minimum standards. On Sunday, 22 September 2019, the NSPCA attempted to inspect the ship at the request of the government but were denied access onto the vessel and were required to enforce their warrant, with the assistance of the South African Police Services (SAPS), to access the ship. On 23 September 2019, SPCA Inspectors arrived at the feedlot where the 61 000 sheep are being kept until loading. The Inspectors were denied access in spite of being in possession of a warrant – this is the second time in two days that Al Mawashi have disregarded the warrants that have been issued to the NSPCA and SPCA representatives. After finally gaining entry with the intervention of the SAPS, the Inspectors had to euthanase a sheep due to it reportedly having a fractured leg. There were other animals that were limping and that had eye infections. This is an indication of the way animals will be left to suffer on board this vessel. The NSPCA are considering laying charges for obstruction for both counts for disregarding a warrant from a Magistrate and charges in terms of the Animals Protection Act No 71 of 1962. See full media statement: https://nspca.co.za/news/live-export-horror-nspca-condemns-al-shuwaikh-vessel/ The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) is warning its veterinarians not to sign export health certificate unless they can ensure animal welfare en route. A veterinarian could be held culpable legally if signing off on certificates to destinations in which there is poor animal welfare.
See document here. In response to Senator Faruqi's request, The Auditor General is considering an audit of the live ex branch of the Dept of Ag.....
It can't come soon enough for VALE. In addition to all the previously identified issues (lack of knowledge or will to regulate plus or minus corruption - See Moss and Lawler Enquiries), this branch is still covering up big time. FOI documents are no longer publicly available once released and are harder than ever to request. High Mortality Investigation reports get forgotten (see Voyage 66!) or perhaps dumped altogether (still no report for Voyage 63 after 3 years). The delay on Independent Observer reports is still very long and most of the summaries when available have been shown to be significantly sanitised. And as for the editing of high mortality reports...incomplete sentences, poor grammar, omission of basic information (eg port of departure).....well clearly this Dept is under-resourced or lacking in basic competencies. Bring it on! VALE have just updated our webpages for High Mortality Voyage Reports and Independent Observer Reports. High Mortality Voyage 63 still has no report after 3 years. Voyage 66 is now up (delayed due to operational oversight (!!) and then delayed by Awassi Express investigations). Still the usual round of no obvious cause for the short haul high mortality voyages.....well go figure....they have a stockperson and NOT a veterinarian. A 4 day stockman course is not quite the same as a 5 year veterinary degree.....or is it? According to the exporters (Voyage 76), "an experienced stockperson would provide greater health and welfare outcomes for the livestock”. One has to wonder why the shipboard veterinarians continue to defend an industry that so demeans veterinary qualifications.
See: http://www.vale.org.au/high-mortality-voyages.html See: http://ww.vale.org.au/independent-observer-reports.html |
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