Well it appears that the "inadvertent" public posting of live ex vet Lynn Simpson's confidential submission to ASEL has the potential to hurt the live ex trade further. Dr Simpson's ASEL submission is now being used as evidence in an Israeli court in an attempt to stop Israel's importing of live animals (including those from Australia) for slaughter.
So.....Lynn Simpson is pursuing the Aust Govt for loss of livelihood. If the trade from Australia to Israel is halted, will the live export industry also sue the Aust Govt ...over the same leaked document? Wouldnt that be an irony? Might be a way for Wellard to recoup some of their recent losses?
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Well, competition with the meat trade is one thing…..but the live ex trade to Indonesia is looking to be problematic all round in 2017: having to import breeders with feeders, price of Aus cattle in an already depleted herd….effects of changing cattle weights on local industry stability…exporters having to run at losses to keep their ships running…..and potentially other issues looming.
Live ex has never been a level playing field and has always been a high risk investment. No doubt we will all be expected to empty our pockets to support the next industry crisis for Aussie live-ex farmers ……or just perhaps, they could start being innovative and strategic to reduce the north’s dependence on this high risk trade….risk to farmers (who have a say) and their animals (which don't). Remember all that stuff about Indonesia needing protein ....and Australia being so kind and benevolent by providing our live cattle to be slaughtered any which way, just so we could help out with nutrition for our neighbours?
Well, now they are getting their protein from meat…imported from India. Go figure. What a surprise…..meat apparently is just fine for the Indonesians protein requirements….and Australia could have been capitalising on the meat export market rather than pursuing some archaic trade that inflicted so much suffering on our animals. Not that the live ex trade is in any way in competition with the chilled meat trade.... After putting a couple of its ships on the market, Wellard is now selling its Beaufort River Meats business. According to The West Australian “The sale is the latest attempt by Wellard to improve its position after a horror past year.” The company, which was valued on the Australian Securities Exchange at $556 million when it listed a year ago, is now worth about $80 million. Investors have apparently “fled the stock” following profit downgrades, which were triggered by mechanical problems in Wellard’s carriers, shipping delays and high cattle prices.
Oh dear. 2017 and….Wellard still in trouble. The West Australian reported "After a disastrous 2016, Wellard announced on the year’s first day of ASX trading that it was again in breach of its debt covenants"….and again working to have the breach waived.
How distressing for the shareholders….but....live export is an inherently risky business.....so an inherently risky investment. Well no-one ever expected that exported dairy cows would be well looked after in China (or other countries). And unlike slaughter animals, there is no supply chain assurance. ESCAS for all its problems, at least provides some “protection” for Australian animals. Our breeders and dairy animals have the rest of their lives to deal with the consequences of export.
And, surprise, surprise, its not just an animal welfare problem. With at least 56 Chinese dairy farms reportedly having 10000 or more cattle, giant piles of black manure tower over surrounding fields, while rancid-smelling effluent from thousands of cows spills onto the land of nearby farmers. And its not just manure….its the rubbish, the injections, the syringes…. Estimates say that just 3,500 cows can produce 100,000 tonnes of fluid waste and effluent a year. Chinese farms are required to process it into fertiliser, but regulations are often flouted. Farms in NZ, one of the leaders in dairy mega-farms, rarely exceed 3000 cows…and the NZers have the experience to deal with the environmental, biosecurity and welfare issues that arise. China do not……so humans and animals suffer. In late December, Tianjin Port, the major port for Australian live-ex cattle, suspended all operations due to an air pollution red alert issued by the city government. Port authorities had to stop all loading and discharging of bulk cargoes, and heavy port congestion and berthing delays were expected for bulk cargo vessels.
So what if that ship, loaded with Australian cattle gets caught up in this problem? Could be a case of foul air, no food AND no vet… …..yep that's right, these voyages are no longer routinely accompanied by a veterinarian because only voyages >10 days to the Middle East have a veterinarian under current policy. Chinese pollution is not likely to be a problem that is going to go away…..just another inherent risk in this inherently risky business. The Government’s latest quarterly report into ESCAS is hardly a happy Christmas present. In total, the report records 22 findings of non-compliance against seven exporters, including six critical and eight major non-compliances. Yet again, Livestock Shipping Services features in the critical non-compliances, bringing its total to six critical and seven major non-compliances….but absolutely no prosecution or licence suspension.
Given that many of the compliance issues were in Vietnam, it is clear that market expansion has clearly been prioritised at the expense of animal welfare. And as for the weary old argument “ we are improving animal welfare in other countries”….well over 40 years involvement in the Middle East hasn't changed a cracker…and why would it? But never forget…..the live export industry cares deeply for its exploited animals. Sure….and Santa is about to arrive on his free range, gently driven, well fed reindeers. Ex-live-export vet Dr Lynn Simpson has sent an open letter to IMO pleading for better ships and international regulation of ships in the live export trade. There is little doubt that the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has done far more than the Dept of Ag to improve conditions for exported Australian livestock. If this plea to IMO is successful, animals worldwide may benefit from the suffering that has gone before….and from the considerable work and investment by AMSA into improving animal welfare when Dept of Ag didn't give a toss.
According to pro-live ex veteran vet Dr Peter Arnold (20 voyages), cows like being covered in their own faeces, seek it out, lie in it, chew their cud and are unconcerned by it. Whilst these are potentially debatable interpretations, his comments do completely contradict industry assertions that the photos of experienced ex-live ex vet Lynn Simpson (57 voyages) are atypical or out of date.
Dr Arnold: "Washing is very messy at the start but ends with a clean deck and animals. Often the mess is transferred to below or other decks. During this washing process, sternally recumbent animals can often be seen chewing their cud whilst the sloppy mess drains on them from the upper deck cleaning,” says Arnold. COMMENT: That is exactly what Lynn Simpson's much criticised photos show, faeces falling from one deck to another. Dr Arnold: “The fecal mess will often dry on the animals giving them a permanent fecal crust. It might not be a good look to humans, but the animals aren’t the least concerned,” he says. COMMENT: According to industry, faecal encrusted animals are not seen any more due to the "improvements" in the current standard (ASEL) but recent photos from Israel (2016), Dr Arnold's comments (2016) and Dr Arnold's own photo provide clear proof that it does. Check out the excellent article on marine pollution with Dr Arnold's comments and an additional comment by VALE on : http://www.maritime-executive.com/features/live-export-following-the-effluent-trail. NOTE: there have been no changes to ASEL since 2004 regarding deck washing and disposal of faeces. |
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