The sheep livestock export is an essential industry and provides a vital market for sheep producers to sell their livestock to and underpinning the domestic sheep farming industry. Moreover, the majority of sheep livestock are exported from Western Australia, with almost three-quarters of Australian sheep exported from this port.
In addition to that, the majority of the sheep production industry in Western Australia are livestock exporters, thereby making the industry especially important to the Western Australian economy. Moreover, the Australian sheep are exported worldwide represented a drop of 15% on the previous year, with demand for the live export of sheep far outstripping supply in the Australian sheep production industry last year.
Furthermore, Australia also has a live cattle export industry and a live goat export industry, primarily exporting to various countries. Indonesia is the primary market for the live cattle export industry, and Malaysia is the primary market for the live goat export industry. The live cattle export industry contributed millions to the Australian economy and the live goat export industry.
This is why arguments that Australia could cease supplying live sheep exports and replace them are not realistic. The two trades are complementary, and it is not as simple as replacing one trade with the other as they serve the needs of different consumers in Middle Eastern markets. Moreover, this type of investment involves programs to improve the welfare of live sheep exports once they arrive in those countries.
This also includes employing a team of animal welfare experts that work with local veterinarians, feedlot operators, stockmen, and port staff to improve how Australian sheep are cared for in the region. Talking about the work and training courses to local workers, upgrades facilities and installs new equipment and infrastructure to improve the care of Australian sheep overseas.
The major highlights of this sort of work also include the development of a sheep trolley, which assists local workers to move sheep humanely and efficiently. The trolleys have been distributed to each major importing country in the region and allow sheep to be comfortably wheeled from feedlots to processing facilities.
Australian livestock exporters have made a significant difference to the welfare of live sheep exports from Australia, and the live sheep export industry is committed to continuing to improve animal welfare in the countries we export to. It has made a huge contribution to the overall economy of Australia.
