Another 7000 Australian live export cattle will be sent to Indonesia from northern Australia this week following news that Wellard Rural Exports has received permission to re-export to the market.

Wellard this afternoon advised that it will export 7000 cattle from Wyndham to Indonesia later this week after it was issued with an Approved Export Plan from the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on Friday.

Wellard is Australia’s largest livestock exporter.

Wellard Managing Director Steve Meerwald said in a statement that the Indonesian feedlot and abattoir industry had worked tirelessly to meet Australia’s new export regulations.

“This will be our first shipment to Indonesia in two-and-a-half months so we are extremely pleased that the live cattle trade is slowly re-opening for the northern producers who rely on it for their livelihoods,” he said.

The shipment will take the number of cattle sent to Indonesia since the trade resumed last week to more than 15,000 head.

Elders sent the first shipment of Australian cattle to Indonesia under revised export conditions to the Port of Panjang aboard the Sahiwal Express from Darwin last Wednesday.

A further 4300 head which were loaded abord the Brahman Express by Austrex in Darwin last week are expected to arrive in the Port of Panjang tomorrow. 

Wellard said its 7000 head shipment will be delivered to two Wellard clients in Indonesia. The animal welfare and livestock traceability systems at both clients’ feedlots and their nominated abattoirs have been independently audited and verified. The results of the audit were submitted to the Department of Agriculture as part of Wellard’s export application.

Wellard has confirmed that is also submitted applications for further shipments to supply additional clients that have also established the infrastructure and traceability systems required under the new trading regulations.

The company has indicated that it hopes to export about 70,000 cattle to Indonesia between now and the end of the 2011 export season, depending on factors such as import permits, feedlot audits, export permits and shipping schedules.

Wellard said its first shipment will be aboard the MV Ocean Swagman, a technologically advanced livestock vessel launched by Wellard in 2010. 

"Its Dual Independent Propulsion System, comprising separate engine rooms and propellers, provides levels of redundancy, and therefore safety, rarely seen in cruise liners and never before built into livestock vessels," the company's statement said.

"The advanced ventilation system on board the MV Ocean Swagman fans an average of 110 air changes per hour, four times the Australian standard and 3.5 times the number air changes per hour on a commercial airliner.

"Additional to the complement of experienced crew onboard the vessel, the voyage will be accompanied by two accredited Australian stockmen a standard practice for Wellard on short haul live export voyages."