Critics as live cattle head for Egypt

1 March 2010

Animal welfare groups have criticised a decision by a WA-based company to export live cattle to Egypt for the first time since 2006.

Wellard Rural Exports became the first company in Australia to reopen the export after the brutal conditions inflicted on live animals in Egypt was exposed by Animals Australia in 2006. It prompted the Federal Government to suspend live cattle exports to the North African country.

The Government lifted that ban in 2008 but Wellard was the first to take advantage of it when the MV Ocean Shearer left Fremantle bound for the approved facility with almost 16,500 WA cattle on board last Tuesday. Sheep can no longer be exported to Egypt but cattle can be exported to an approved
abattoir in Ain Sokhna.

While Wellard managing director Steve Meerwald lauded the re-opening of exports to Egypt, Animals Australia and the RSPCA condemned it.

"At this new abattoir they will be subjected to the stress of a restraint box, which will trap their bodies and rotate them 140 degrees before having their throats cut while fully conscious," Animals Australia executive director Glenys Oogjes said. "That the live export industry would provide animals to be subjected to such a fate is shameful."

Livecorp chief executive Cameron Hall said the export was fantastic news for WA producers, who had been suffering compared with Eastern States counterparts.