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 Live export sheep get the ute 

Live export sheep get the ute

09 Dec, 2008 03:10 PM
More than 10,000 Australian sheep sold from Bahrain Feedlot Company (BLC) have been transported "in the ute, not the boot" during the lead up to Eid Al Adha, the biggest feast in the Muslim calendar, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.

It says that BLC and MLA/LiveCorp's animal welfare policy ensures people purchasing livestock from the feedlot must meet strict animal handling requirements.

A team of Australian animal welfare experts, BLC staff and local stockmen have worked to ensure correct handling of Australian sheep during the period of private sales to families and communities.

MLA says these sheep will be sacrificed in accordance with Muslim tradition and shared with families, friends and the poorer Muslim community as an act of charity.

Australian animal welfare expert and MLA/LiveCorp livestock services manager, Peter Dundon, said the livestock export industry’s investment in animal welfare training and education was paying off.

"Every single sheep sold from the feedlot has been properly transported," Mr Dundon said.

"We've only had to turn a few people away as the majority are aware and accepting of these new requirements.

"Real change takes time, and that's why I'm here with my team in the region, improving animal welfare each day, step by step.

"Our next steps will be to work with the smaller marketplaces within Bahrain that also need to adhere to the "no car boot policy", and move the program into other importing countries across the region.

"We congratulate BLC for being the first to implement this important program for the correct handling of Aussie sheep during this peak festival period."

Bahrain Livestock Company chairman, Ebrahim Mohamed Ali Zainal, said that Bahraini's were aware Australians were concerned about the care of their sheep in the region.

"There are thousands of people wanting to buy a sheep for Eid Al Adha, and while this policy has put extra pressure on our feedlot, we are proud that Bahrain Feedlot Company is showing Australians that we care for their animals," he said.

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
And would these 10,000 sheep - if we can believe the exporters - have been put into a boot if Animals Australia and other animal welfare organisations had not exposed the cruelty which abounds in the ME? This iniative is not because they care - it's because Aust will do anything easy to keep this trade. Now perhaps Aust can put the money where their big self important mouths are and stop the mass slaughter of animals without pre stunning...
Posted by compassionb4greed, 9/12/2008 3:51:51 PM
Change takes time? They've had three decades and this is as much as they have achieved. Just pitiful. And this is ONE COMPANY in ONE COUNTRY. What happens to the other hundreds of thousands?
Posted by Nicky, 9/12/2008 4:22:29 PM
Who cares about the new utes! big deal! Aussie sheep should not be subjected to 45+ degree heat and thirst on those rotten crammed ships for weeks on end.. Do it cleaner in OZ and export chilled meat. But no..the tradition of other countries must come first. The inhumane Cruelty of Australian well farmed sheep..come last.
Posted by Valleygirl, 9/12/2008 6:45:26 PM
It should be more organised that this. People should be made to put in an order 4 weeks ahead of time. A truck can then deliver to a certain address. My question is, how do we know that all sheep privately bought do go in a ute and not a boot? How heavily is this rule policed?
Posted by MJM, 10/12/2008 8:21:55 AM
Without Animals Australia's courageous investigations in exposing the horrors of live-export these feeble attempts by exporters at reform would never have happened. These poor helpless animals will still die a horrendous death having their throats slit and bleeding to death without pre-stunning. No amount of words can describe the barbarism of the Live-animal export-trade. Kathleen Timmerman.
Posted by Kathleen Timmerman, 10/12/2008 8:51:54 AM
It is hard for many people to understand animal sacrifice. Even harder to understand and accept human sacrifice. But both are facts of life (and death). We are all literally born to die in the flesh. No animal or human is immortal. Pain and suffering are as much facts of life as joy and peace. These Aussie sheep lovingly bred and reared by Aussie farmers are now feeding hungry people fresh meat on the other side of the world. How wonderful. And on the other side of the world they are giving thanks. So should we. We have an industry that helps feed and clothe us and the world. It also keeps our landscape maintained reducing fire risk and helping to control weeds without chemicals. The "by product" wool is arguarbly one of the best and safest carbon sequestration system we have in existence. Let's have some compassion for real people who care for other people. Support this industry and help feed others and ourselves.
Posted by Common Cents, 10/12/2008 9:08:34 AM
This barbaric trade has to stop - this country should be ashamed to be part of it - AS USUAL MONEY IS EVERYTHING - never mind the suffering! Hope Mr Rudd reads all these comments - no one in Government has a heart or is too frightened of a farmer backlash.
Posted by Farmer Beeb, 10/12/2008 11:57:26 AM
CHILL people. A journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step. The ox is slow but the earth is patient. You all need a powder and a good lie down & lamb chop. You know it makes sense.
Posted by THE FARMER, 10/12/2008 12:43:45 PM
I'm pretty surprised about some comments made by people - these people are helping Australia's economy and the desperate farmers in need of serious help. I have been informed that the way in which they slaughter their animals is done in way so as to cause the animal the least amount of pain possible, which is why they cannot buy and use other meat because animals suffer otherwise. So people should really educate themselves before jumping to conclusions. Cheers
Posted by SA, 11/12/2008 1:06:49 AM
Don't think this barbaric sheep practice of stuffing sheep in car boots for novice backyard slaughters doesn't happen here in Australia.
Posted by valleygirl, 14/12/2008 7:30:53 PM
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