Live Export

RSPCA says Fed Govt forcing live cattle onto China

Beef Central, 04/08/2015

Steer on shipThe RSPCA has accused the Australian Government of “forcing” livestock exports onto China, saying that pushing live animals into strong meat markets makes no sense.

The Australian Livestock Exporters Association in response says the animal welfare group’s position ignores China’s strong demand for live cattle and highlights the organisation’s lack of understanding of the changes occurring in the livestock export trade and China’s lot feeding and processing sector.

In a statement issued on Monday RSPCA Australia called on the Federal Government to stop forcing livestock exports onto Australia’s burgeoning beef markets, and concentrate instead on growing Australia’s high welfare, high value beef export trade in those countries.

Focusing specfically on China, the RSPCA quoted Meat and Livestock Australia figures, which showed that in 2014 China was Australia’s fourth largest beef export market.

“China now imports more beef in a month than it did for the entire 2011 calendar year; sending live export animals into these markets is completely unnecessary,” said Heather Neil, CEO RSPCA Australia.

“China is already a great success story for Australia’s beef export market. In 2013/2014 we sent $790 million worth of beef to China – that’s an increase of almost 3000% since 2009.

“This exponential growth is being driven by a rapidly expanding middle class, that by 2030 will number an estimated one billion; this group demands food safety and quality, characteristics for which Australian beef is famous.

“There is absolutely no need to compromise the lives of Australian animals by sending them on a cruel live export journey to destinations where their welfare is not assured when international markets are literally eating up our clean, green beef.

RSPCA missing the mark on China livexport deal: ALEC

Increasing market access and improving trading conditions for Australian live cattle is the right approach to securing Australia’s economic prosperity, supports our cattle producers and helps better animal welfare globally, the CEO of the Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council Alison Penfold said today.

“Rather than a forced deal, the recently agreed health protocol with China for Australia live feeder and slaughter cattle is a joint agreement between the Governments of Australia and China, and responds to significant commercial interest on both sides,” Ms Penfold said.

“With Chinese demand for beef expected to increase with compound growth rate of 2.5% per annum until 2030, it is not surprising that China would seek to source livestock and red meat from Australia with a reputation for healthy livestock and reliable supplies.

“The Government of China has in place public policy settings that are focused on the development of an industrialised beef production sector and increasing production scale as well as reflecting increasing complexity in consumer markets. It therefore makes sense for Australia to export both live animals and boxed meat to maximise our nation’s potential in supporting China’s food security needs.

“The health protocol provides market access as part of the Australian Government’s total efforts to improve market opportunities for the Australian red meat sector and provide increased returns to producers.

“Markets mean business and helps send signals to producers to increase production and productivity and help better position Australia to export more product.

“The recently concluded FTA’s with China, Japan and Korea will provide significant benefits to the sector and will help support further growth in opportunities for the exports of red meat.

“Unlike the RSPCA, we congratulate the Government for having a whole of red meat sector focus on improving market access which provides opportunities and benefits right along the supply chain.

“We also note the recognition from that Australian exporters have received from the global organisation for animal health, the OIE, for exporting our animal welfare, handling and slaughter expertise through training of over 8000 people in 19 markets.  This is expertise we will bring to our work in establish supply chains in China.”

Ms Penfold also responded to the suggestion that the live export journey is somehow cruel.

“While we have not yet reached our goal of 100% delivery rates, the latest 2013 National Livestock Export Industry Sheep, Cattle and Goat Transport Performance Report showed that of the 840,000 head of cattle exported, some 888 head unfortunately perished on the journey.  That equates to a deliver rate of 99.83% of cattle exported.

“Australian exporters have long recognised the importance of the ensuring systems support good welfare while animals are on boats or in the air.  This area has long been a major focus of our research and extension program as part of our commitment to continual improvement of onboard environmental conditions.”

The transport of livestock is regulated by the Australian Government under the provisions of Marine Orders 43 and the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock.  All livestock on sea voyages have access to feed, water, space to move and lie down and the care of either veterinarians or trained stockmen.

“The Government must focus its energies on growing the meat trade on a global scale, making it as profitable as possible for our producers and ensuring the welfare of our animals at the same time.”

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Comments

  1. Jenny James, 06/08/2015

    Heather Neil should just mind her own business and just look after cats and dogs because they sure aren’t even successful there either.
    Why do we now have higher returns for our cattle. LE, Heather, simply LE. Without LE, the Au abattoirs would be making a fortune and cattle producers would be broke.
    It simply doesn’t seem to occur to her that businesses (abattoirs) do not pay if they aren’t made to pay. Make them pay Heather and we will send them the cattle.
    Otherwise
    LONG LIVE LE as it makes abattoirs PAY.
    Stick to dogs and cats and fix up that mess Heather – one RSPCA have enabled to happen.
    People abandon their cats and dogs because Rspca exists. Approx 100,000 cats dogs etc are killed by councils and rspca EVERY YEAR.
    Cruelty in good old Au. And you Heather point the finger at another country!?
    Hellooo

  2. Trish Brown, 04/08/2015

    The RSPCA has a good point and sending cattle live to China is taking jobs away from Australians.

    The federal govts of Liberal and labour have to pull their heads out of the sand and allow more jobs to be created by encouraging the building of more abattoirs in our country especially in the northern parts of the country and in coastal areas where their is a lot of unemployment, especially among indigenous people who could be trained in this field.
    Iron ore mining,especially in the West is declining and the WA govt. needs to look at alternative employment if these growing coastal towns are to survive.

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