Cowboys Ranch

By Live Export Care

 Around 3.5 million Australian sheep are exported to the Middle East each year. The most popular sheep breeds for live export are merinos from Western Australia. In 2009, the 3.5 million live sheep exports exported to the Middle East contributed $323 million in export earnings to the Australian economy.

Australian sheep are highly regarded in the Middle East for their quality and disease-free status, and provide thousands of families and communities with a vital source of protein. Many countries do not have the land, climate or infrastructure to raise livestock sheep, and religious and cultural beliefs and a desire for fresh meat means many Middle Eastern countries rely on Australia for safe, fresh meat and protein.

Kuwait was the largest market for Australian sheep in 2009, with the 950,000 sheep exported there representing 26% of total exports. Bahrain was the second largest market, taking 747,000 head.

Everyone involved in Australia’s live sheep export industry cares deeply about the welfare of the sheep we export overseas. The Australian live sheep export industry operates to world-best standards and is one of the most highly regulated industries in the world.

AQIS accredited Australian veterinarians and stockmen care for the sheep during their journey overseas. Sheep have constant access to feed and water and room to move around and lie down. Each vessel has ‘hospital pens’ to provide extra care for sick animals. In 2009 over 99% of all sheep exported from Australia arrived fit and healthy at their destination after being well cared for during their journey.

When the live sheep exports arrive in the Middle East the sheep walk from the ship into transport trucks and are taken to local feedlots. Here, they again have constant access to feed, cool, clean water and shade, and are cared for by local stockmen trained by Australian animal welfare experts. Most animals are then transported to local abattoirs for processing while some go to local markets for sale.

Australian animal welfare experts are based in Bahrain in the Middle East and provide training, education and infrastructure upgrades to help improve animal welfare and care for Australian sheep in the region. They are delivering many animal welfare improvements with the help of local people, importers and governments.

A key initiative that has delivered improvements for Australian sheep exported to the Middle East is the ‘in the ute, not the boot’ program. The program is aimed at educating locals on the correct way to handle and transport Australian sheep, and to date has been introduced in Bahrain and Qatar during the Eid al Adha religious festival. During the year, the majority of Australian live sheep exports are transported directly from feedlots to abattoirs for processing, however during Eid al Adha communities purchase sheep directly from feedlots for religious reasons and are often unaware of how to properly handle and transport Australian sheep.

A team of Australian animal handling and welfare specialists worked at feedlots in Bahrain and Qatar to ensure Australian sheep were transported in appropriate livestock trucks or utes. Feedlot staff were trained, advertisements were taken out and signs were placed throughout feedlots to inform locals of the transport policy.

The program has resulted in a much improved system of handling and transporting sheep during peak religious festival periods, delivering significant welfare improvements for Australian sheep exported to the Middle East.

Live Export Care is an online communication tool of the Australian livestock export industry. Australian farmers and exporters care deeply about the welfare of the animals and llive sheep exported overseas and through our involvement in the trade we are improving animal welfare standards on a global scale.

Livestock Exports

By Live Export Care

 Australia is the world’s leading supplier of high quality live cattle, sheep and goats to countries around the world. For many years Australia has been a valuable food source for countries that do not have the resources or geography to efficiently produce livestock to feed their populations, meeting this overseas demand by exporting livestock for both food production and breeding, in addition to frozen and chilled meat products.

In addition to providing much needed protein for global communities, the industry supports the livelihoods of thousand of Australian farming families and communities who invest heavily in improving the welfare of the livestock we export overseas.

Accredited stockmen care for our sheep and cattle during their journey overseas and Australian Government accredited veterinarians provide an extra level of care on vessels travelling to the Middle East. On board, all animals have room to move around and lie down, ready access to food and water and are placed in hospital pens if they need extra care.

At their destination, livestock are cared for by trained stockmen in feedlots where they have constant access to food, fresh water and shade. Australian animal welfare experts are based in the regions we export our animals to and regularly deliver animal welfare training and education programs. They also make improvements to infrastructure and livestock facilities.

The industry’s activities in animal welfare are vital to ensuring our animals are well cared for, meeting the standards that Australian farmers, exporters and communities expect. Whilst our work has ensured an increased standard of care in the markets we export to, we are aware there is still more work to be done, and we are focused on continuing to improve animal welfare in these markets. This is why Australian farmers and exporters, through their industry levies, invest millions of dollars into programs such as training, education and research and development to improve animal welfare in Australia, during voyages and in overseas markets.

Australia’s livestock export industry is recognised as having the highest animal welfare standards for livestock export, and we are committed to maintaining our reputation as the best in the world. The industry is also subject to strict regulatory requirements. Exporters must be licensed by the Australian Government and meet the detailed requirements of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL). The ASEL covers all aspects of preparation of livestock for the voyage, from farm through to onboard management. Livestock ships must also meet strict requirements governed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).

These standards, strict regulation and the industry’s commitment to caring for livestock on their voyages overseas, mean that over 99% of all Australian animals arrive fit and healthy at their destinations.

The livestock export industry is vitally important to the Australian economy, and makes a significant contribution to rural and regional areas throughout Australia, especially in the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria.

The industry contributes AUD1.8 billion each year to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product; employs nearly 13,000 Australians nationally across 30 separate business types; and pays AUD987 million a year in wages and salaries2

The industry supports business such as saleyards, transport operators, exporters, stevedores and shipping companies. It also benefits feedlot operators, fodder suppliers, veterinarians, livestock agents, stockmen, port authorities and helicopter mustering services.

Any significant interruption to the livestock export trade would have a negative effect on domestic livestock markets, as cattle and sheep that were destined for export would be diverted onto domestic markets. The impact would be greatest in regions from which livestock are sourced, but would soon affect national markets.

Live Export Care provides information on the livestock export industry to the Australian public. The Australian live stock exports operates under the highest standards in the world and is committed to animal welfare in Australia, on-board vessels and at overseas destinations.
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Somalia is Located in Africa

By Douglas Scott

 Somalia is located on the Horn of Africa, and is bordered by Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the north west and Kenya on its south west. This is a country with a troubled past and the present and future does not look bright either. Civil war, military coups, border disputes and warlords are the general course of events here. The removal of the Islamic Courts from power has created a power vacuum and the situation in Somalia is highly unstable at the moment

The country has been without an effective central government since President Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991. In the main part of the country, a Transitional National Government was elected in July 2000 by representatives of the countrys major clans, political and religious movements. The government is led by Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and Ali Mohamed Ghedi, who hold the titles of President and Prime Minister respectively. It has UN recognition but, if the 2004 accord holds, will be replaced under a new constitution

Somalia is most emphatically not a tourist destination and not safe for independent travel or sightseeing. Most foreign governments advise against non essential travel. Those visiting for business, research, or international aid purposes should consult with their organization and seek expert guidance before planning a trip.

The simple fact of the matter is that tourism to Somalia is not an option. This is not a country in which tourism can be done with military escorts or carrying guns. This is a country to which tourists should not think about going. The only exception would be the Somaliland area, where travel is possible, although going there still belongs in the bad ideas box.

Subsistence agriculture and livestock rearing occupy most of the working population, although development is hampered by primitive techniques, poor soil and climatic conditions, and a chronic labour shortage. Bananas are the main cash crop and provide nearly half the countrys export earnings, cotton, maize, sorghum and other crops are produced for domestic consumption. Animal products, particularly hides and skins, are another key source of revenue, mainly from Saudi Arabia.

Fishing has dwindled to the level of individual small boats, but there are provisional plans to restore this to full commercial capacity. Oil and gas deposits have been located but their exploitation has been in abeyance due to the lack of an effective central government. There is little industry other than small scale operations to meet domestic needs, mainly food processing and oil refining.

Most economic assets remain in the unstable hands of clan based militias, with frequent competition for control of particular industries.

Douglas Scott works for The Rental Car Hire Specialist. and is a free lance writer for The Somalia Rental Site

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