What’s it really like on board a live export ship?

An experienced live export vet has provided a glimpse into the conditions animals can endure on live export ships – and it’s not a pretty picture.

Dr Lynn Simpson served as the on-board vet for some 57 live export voyages, tending as best she could to the needs of animals (and crew). Exposing industry ‘marketing spin’, she gives harrowing and vivid descriptions of debilitating injuries, heat stress and suffering on a colossal scale.

Space

Stocking densities (the amount of space allocated to each animal) have traditionally been so high that it’s often not possible for all animals to lie down naturally at the same time. Crowded conditions are just an additional stress for animals on long haul voyages who are already dealing with the unfamiliar environment, noise and constant ship movement.

The Awassi Express disaster which saw 2,400 sheep perish at sea from heat stress, put a national focus on unacceptably high stocking densities on live export ships and led to a government directive to increase the space allocation for animals on board.

Bedding

Adequate sawdust or other soft bedding to rest on is not available to cattle on board a live export ship. Some sawdust provisions are required but they are not nearly sufficient, leaving animals travelling on hard, non-slip surfaces which can often result in painful abrasions, lameness and injury. Australian standards only indicate that bedding should be replaced “as necessary” leaving this decision in the hands of exporters.

Faeces

The build-up of wet faeces on live export ships can lead to cattle becoming coated in excrement. Apart from being distressing and unhygienic, faecal coated cattle cannot dispel heat through their body surface and are at greater risk of heat stress.

Heat

Heat stress is a constant risk on live export ships. Animals suffering from heat stress literally cook from the inside out — they can suffer for days as their organs shut down one by one. Since 2004, 71 live shipments have had a death toll of 1,000 animals or more, including:

• In 2013 – more than 4,000 sheep suffered and died from heat stress on the Bader III 
• In 2016 – more than 3,000 sheep suffered and died from heat stress on the Al Messilah
• In 2017 – 2,400 sheep suffered and died from heat stress on the Awassi Express

Footage captured by a brave crewman on board the Awassi Express revealed sheep caked in melted faeces and urine, severely decomposed bodies in pens with living sheep, sheep bogged in melted faces and unable to stand, and sheep suffering and dying from heat stroke.

The images made international headlines and sparked a political backlash in Australia – leading to multiple inquiries and a prohibition on exporting sheep from Australia into the Northern summer – effectively banning live sheep export for three months of the year.

Heat stress remains a very issue and concern on live export shipments during the shoulder months.

Discomfort

Ship floors are often covered in non-slip ‘cleating’ (as pictured) which doesn’t allow sheep and cattle to rest comfortably. This can cause abrasions and lameness which may lead to septicaemia.

Injuries

Hoof damage, painful skin abrasions and lameness are common on board live export vessels due to the abrasive deck surface and inadequate drainage. Injured animals are often euthnised.

Infections

Untreated, open wounds are at risk of infection and septic cellulitis from exposure to faeces and urine. Skin abrasions are often go unnoticed as they are covered by faecal matter. Infections can be so painful that an animal will refuse to rise, which in turn stops them feeding and drinking and leaves them lying in their own faeces.

Disease

Crowded conditions, high levels of ammonia and the stressful and unfamiliar surroundings on board ships can result in animals failing to eat (resulting in death), eye infections, heat stress, salmonellosis and pneumonia.

Food and water contamination

Dirty pens filled with dirty cattle unsurprisingly can lead to dirty water and feed troughs, contaminated with urine and faeces. This can result in animals suffering from dehydration and not getting enough food.

Rough seas

Live export ships routinely face rough weather at sea. Rough seas and unexpected weather put animals at increased risk of injury and sea sickness. Ship rolling caused by rough weather results in discomfort for animals, making it harder for them to even stand properly.

Mechanical failures

Live export has a history of disasters that have been devastating for animals – ventilation problems, engine failure and even fire have caused suffering and fatalities. Every journey runs the risk of something going wrong and animals are the ones to pay the price.

Fatigue

Cattle have been known to lie down for long periods of time when the decks are cleaned and new sawdust is laid. Dr Simpson states this is a result of exhaustion and fatigue from animals reluctant to lie down in their own faeces not getting sufficient respite. Due to the lack of space on board, animals are at risk of being smothered, injured or repeatedly disturbed by others as they attempt to rest.

Birthing

Animals are often not properly tested for pregnancy before boarding and that has led to cows and ewes giving birth at sea. Animals who go into labour on live export ships are not often given the additional space and care that they need, and their young may be trampled or injured. As the calves or lambs will likely be killed (usually for commercial reasons) the new mothers’ risk of mastitis is significantly increased.

Death

Australian standards specify that no animal weighing more than 650 kg should be loaded on board a live export vessel. But some exporters have ignored these guidelines and loaded heavier animals, like the bull pictured, risking their lives. In Dr Simpson’s report to the government, she warned that any animal over 500 kg has an increased risk of injury.

Incredibly, government regulations allow a mortality rate of 1% of sheep and 0.5% of cattle on every voyage – which means animals can die at sea without any investigation into the cause.

Help spare animals from live export cruelty

For as long as this cruel trade in living beings exists, we remain as committed as ever to sparing animals from falling victim to it. Will you join us?

Please spare one minute now to lend your voice to the animals — and help create a world free from the horror of live export.