Page 12 - DoggieRescue E-Magazine August 2015_Neat

12 AUGUST 2015 DOGGIERESCUE.COM MAGAZINE

DOGGIERESCUE UNLEASHED AND DANGEROUS

Compiled by Roland Briefrel

“ For over thirty years I have campaigned in opposition to the live animal
export trade. My attitude is always quite simple: the moment the animals
leave our shores, we have no meaningful control over what happens to
them and how they are treated. Unfortunately, when it comes to our
Federal politicians, the ones who can actually change things, my
concerns have always fallen on deaf ears. A few have tried to intervene,
but then the animals exposed to this trade do not vote.” Roland
xx

THE CRUEL LIVE EXPORT TRADE

Tens of thousands of sheep and around 1,000 cattle are reported to die each year on live export
ships (though these figures are 'self-reported' by the Master of the vessel and are in reality likely
to be higher). http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/welfare/export-trade/mortalities

Sheep can sicken and die from failing to eat the on-board The Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System
pellet diet, and animals can die from salmonellosis, (ESCAS) was introduced in 2011 (as an outcome of
pneumonia, heat stress and other illnesses. Few are the Indonesian cruelty exposé and extended to all
euthanased, most die without human intervention (i.e. are markets by the Farmer review), and now is intended
not treated). This has occurred despite numerous inquiries to cover 99% of all live animal exports (by 1/1/2013 it
and reviews and the introduction of the Australian will be 100%). It requires animals that are exported
Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL) in 2003 after for slaughter to only be handled in importing countries
the Cormo Express tragedy. ASEL only relates to the through facilities (feedlots and abattoirs) that have
preparation of animals for transport and their handling and been audited against a check list based on OIE
conditions on ships and during unloading. (minimum) standards. Pre-slaughter stunning is not a
requirement of ESCAS. ESCAS does not cover
In the ten years from 2001 to 2011, 12,049 cattle were animals exported as breeders or dairy animals.
reported dead on board ships, and at least 454,374 sheep
died on the ships in that decade. This is a much higher Given the recent incidents this year in both Vietnam
death rate than similar (young, mostly wether) sheep and Israel, (ESCAS) does not work and animals
would incur on farm 1%-2% per annum, compared to just continue to be slaughtered in the most appalling of
under 1% during a single shipment lasting only on average circumstances. Everyone involved in the trade
around 2.5 weeks (i.e. an estimated 10 times the expected appears to be turning a blind eye to the realities of
on-farm morality rate). There are no current statistics on this “business”, simply because it is good for
the numbers of animals that die in feedlots in importing business apparently and under no circumstances
countries before slaughter. can we possibly upset our trading partners.