The on-board stockman or Australian Government Accredited Veterinarian, if one accompanies the voyage, must immediately report a reportable mortality level to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
The department undertakes an investigation into livestock reportable mortality incidents to try to determine the cause of the mortalities and suggest future corrective action.
The department is reviewing its investigation processes for reportable mortality events with a view to establishing shorter timeframes for conduct of these investigations. It will finalise this review and establish a new approach by March 2019.
In order to improve the transparency of the live export trade, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources with the agreement of the Live Export Industry Consultative Committee, have undertaken to report on investigations conducted of consignments with reportable mortality events.
A voyage may include multiple consignments. Actions taken by a delegate of the Secretary for voyages exported by sea that record mortalities above the reportable level are reported on in a six-monthly report to Parliament.
The most recent update to this page (January 2019) included the publication of Mortality Report #71 (see 2017 below), Mortality Report #72, Mortality Report #75 and Mortality Report #76 (see 2018 below).
View the consignment 76 report in detail – Cattle exported by sea to the Philippines October 2018.
A mortality rate of 0.93 per cent was recorded for this consignment of cattle exported to the Philippines. The department's review indicates the cattle were prepared and managed in accordance with ASEL. The cause of the mortalities was determined to be multifactorial.
The department accepted the actions implemented by the exporter and did not take any regulatory action against the exporter.
Feeder cattle will be vaccinated against infectious bovine rhinotrachetitis (IBR) as a pre-cursor to pneumonia.
Additional veterinary supplies will be loaded onto vessels – including anti-biotics and anti-inflammatories.
View the consignment 75 report in detail – Buffalo exported by sea to Vietnam August 2018.
A mortality rate of 1.23 per cent was recorded for this consignment of buffalo exported to Vietnam. The department's review indicates the cattle were prepared and managed in accordance with ASEL. The cause of the mortalities was determined to be pneumonia.
Buffalo will spend a minimum of eight days in the registered premises prior to being exported.
Buffalo will be vaccinated against bovine respiratory disease (BRD) at least seven days prior to export.
Stricter rejection criteria will be implemented at the registered premises for buffalo.
Additional bedding, chaff and veterinary supplies will be loaded onto the vessels carrying buffalo.
View the consignment 72 report in detail – Cattle exported by sea to Indonesia January 2018.
A mortality rate of 1.85 per cent was recorded for this consignment of cattle exported to Indonesia. The department's review indicates the cattle were prepared and managed in accordance with ASEL. The cause of the mortalities was determined to be bovine respiratory disease (BRD).
A more astute and diligent selection process – taking into account weather and environmental factors.
Review and amendment of their heavy cattle management plan.
Review and amendment of their on-board respiratory disease prevention management plan.
Pre-export vaccinations against BRD on a case by case basis.
Additional bedding, chaff/hay and veterinary supplies loaded on board vessels.
View the consignment 71 report in detail – Buffalo exported by sea to Vietnam December 2017.
A mortality rate of 2.26 per cent was recorded for this consignment of buffalo exported to Vietnam. The mortalities were largely the result of inanition and stress.
Buffalo will spend a minimum of 10 days in properties of origin prior to induction into the registered premises.
Buffalo will spend a minimum of five days in the registered premises prior to being exported.
Implementation of a more rigorous drafting and selection process for buffalo to ensure signs of undue stress or inanition are not present prior to loading.
View the consignment 70 report in detail – Buffalo exported by sea to Vietnam September 2017.
A mortality rate of 2.89 per cent was recorded for this consignment of buffalo exported to Vietnam. The department's review indicates the buffalo were prepared and managed in accordance with ASEL. A definitive cause of mortalities was not determined.
Additional bedding and chaff beyond ASEL requirements loaded on the vessel.
Additional scrutiny at selection of buffalo, paying particular attention to buffalo which do not transition well to domestication.
Buffalo will spend a minimum seven days in the registered premises prior to loading.
Buffalo pens on board the vessel will be hosed down more regularly during the voyage.
View the consignment 69 report in detail – Sheep exported by sea to Qatar, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates August 2017.
Additional information relating to this voyage was received by the department following publication of this report on 29 March 2018. The department conducted a comprehensive review of this information. Mortality Report #69 has been updated to reflect the outcomes of the review of the information provided to the department on 5 April 2018. Updated text is provided in bold.
The cause of this reportable mortality was heat stress. The peak in mortalities corresponded with extreme heat and humidity experienced in Qatar. The humidity and temperatures experienced from day 5 to day 13 and associated deck conditions, prior to arrival in Qatar is likely to have contributed to the severity of the mortality event. The highest mortality rates were in the 'A' class wethers (69.43 kg), which were the fourth most numerous class of the sheep on board the ship making up 7.51 per cent of the consignment. There was no significant correlation of mortalities with deck position.
The department's original investigation found the sheep were prepared and transported in accordance with the Export Control (Animals) Orders and the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL) based on the information provided to the department during the course of the original investigation. The additional material provided by Animals Australia in April 2018 revealed some breaches of ASEL relating to stock selection (S1.7 and S1.16(b)); preparation and loading (S4.12); and the on-board management of livestock and pens during the voyage (S5.6 and S5.7). That the animal welfare concerns and breaches were observed across the five voyages indicated broader issues with the exporters' processes.
Following a show cause process, the department has subsequently cancelled the livestock export licence of Emanuel and of EMS—a wholly owned subsidiary company of Emanuel which also had consignments on voyages 23L and 27L.
In light of the new information provided on 5 April 2018, a range of actions have been undertaken in response. Further detail of these actions can be found in Mortality Report #69.
View the consignment 68 report in detail – Cattle exported by sea to Brunei Darussalam and Sarawak April 2017.
The department concluded that the cause of this mortality event was ineffective non-slip flooring in a new livestock export ship.
SEALS arranged for two representatives to be at the first port to assist with discharge. One travelled to the feedlot to ensure livestock settled in appropriately and to follow up on further management. The other representative continued on to the second port to assist with the final discharge. Once discharge was complete, the ship sailed directly to a shipyard to undergo remediation of the floors.
SEALS advised that if the vessel is used for another voyage, they will use the same on board AAV for consistency. The AAV indicated that the amount of bedding in each pen would be doubled from the outset, and hospital areas would have a thick pad, probably consisting of full sawdust bags placed in a patchwork pattern.
An AAV must accompany the livestock.
The class of livestock must be limited to heifers, steers and young bulls less than 400 kg bodyweight.
The voyage must be less than 10 days' duration.
Bedding must be loaded onto the vessel, at a minimum quantity of 25 m3 for every 1000 m2. (Bedding is not required under ASEL on voyages shorter than 10 days).
Shared details of this reportable mortality with industry, and suggested that information could be made available to livestock exporters regarding effective non-slip flooring for live export ships.
As part of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL) review, additional conditions have been proposed for maiden voyages of new livestock export ships.
View the consignment 67 report in detail – Buffalo exported by sea to Malaysia November 2016.
A mortality rate of 1.88 per cent was recorded for this consignment of buffalo exported to Malaysia. The department's review of all information including that provided by the exporter indicates that the buffalo were prepared and managed in accordance with ASEL standards. A definitive cause of mortalities was not determined.
The department accepted the actions implemented by the exporter and did not take any further action against the exporter.
The exporter suggested age, body condition and limited domestication were possible contributing factors. The exporter has amended their Standard Operating Procedures for exporting buffalo by sea to include the following.
shipped in appropriate pens with no solid walls and multiple entry and exit points.
View the consignment 66 report in detail – Sheep exported by sea to Oman and Kuwait in August 2016.
The main cause of mortalities in Consignment A was heat stress commencing on day 19 and becoming extreme on days 22 and 23. At the time of the heat event, the AAV withdrew food and prioritised watering thereby reducing metabolic heat to the extent possible.
The highest rates were in the A Class wethers (64kg) loaded in Adelaide suffering a 7.44 per cent mortality rate. All other classes of sheep experienced mortalities below the reportable level even though they experienced the same environmental conditions, indicating this particular class was susceptible to heat stress.
Sheep were sourced for both Adelaide consignments from 67 vendors and then drafted by class and weight after arrival in the RP suggesting there was not an underlying health issues with animals sourced from a particular property.
View the consignment 65 report in detail – Sheep exported by sea to Qatar, Kuwait, UAE and Oman July 2016.
* The initial report published in September 2017 was updated to clarify the department's assessment of the mortality figures in January 2018.
A mortality rate of 2.51 per cent was recorded for this consignment of sheep exported to the Middle East. The cause of this reportable mortality was heat stress. A peak in cases occurred over three days, which corresponded with the most extreme conditions and a delayed discharge in Qatar. There were problems recording daily mortality rates from Day 14 of the voyage due to time pressure, restricted access to pens, extreme weather, delays in collection and disposal of carcasses and discharge logistics. As a result of this 1,286 sheep where unaccounted for. The department considers the majority of these sheep were mortalities and the mortality rate for this voyage is likely to be closer to 4.36 per cent. The department required Emanuel to comply with a heat event management plan for their next consignment to the Middle East using the same vessel and the corresponding mortality rate was below the reportable level.
Emanuel undertook a review of their practices and procedures and identified strategies to minimise the risk of a future heat stress event. At the department's request, they developed and implemented a comprehensive heat event management plan. This included reducing stocking density (on the next voyage), loading industrial fans to assist with ventilation, changing the port rotation and investigating what other weather forecasting information can be accessed.
View the consignment 64 report in detail – Cattle exported by sea to Vietnam in May 2016.
A definitive cause of the mortalities in this consignment could not be identified. The cool and wet conditions and a prolonged stay of cattle in Premises A (up to 40 days) before export may have contributed to the lameness, downers and subsequent mortalities during the voyage.
NACC staff in Vietnam followed the livestock through to the Importer's feedlots to monitor their health and welfare and progress over four days after their arrival. The cattle were given additional space and bedding in the feedlots to help them recover from the voyage.
No cattle with more than 50 per cent Bos taurus genetics will be exported out of southern ports (South of 26th Parallel) to Vietnam between May and August.
Continue to load additional sawdust and chaff for any voyage longer than seven days.
Liaise with the operator of registered premises to consider yard condition, actual and predicted rainfall before finalising the booking of yard for an export consignment.
View the consignment 62 report in detail – Cattle exported by sea to Mexico in April 2016.
The department's review concluded that cattle were treated in accordance with ASEL. The majority of the mortalities were in the younger, lighter Angus and Angus cross heifers. Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) was the main cause of mortalities in this consignment.
Landmark's livestock operations manager travelled to Mexico to manage the discharge of the animals, provided additional medication to treat any animals showing signs of ill health upon arrival and provided recommendations for the ongoing management of the cattle.
Landmark engaged the services of five consultant veterinarians to devise a strategy on shipment preparation and on board disease mitigation. These recommendations were incorporated into a 'High Risk Cattle Health Management Plan'. Landmark will apply this plan to their future high risk shipments.
View the consignment 61 report in detail – Cattle exported by sea to Vietnam in March 2016.
The main cause of mortalities on this voyage was that 14 cattle were unable to stand or walk (downer animals) and were euthanased. Five cattle died from pneumonia.
Wet conditions in the registered premises where cattle were held before export caused softened hooves resulting in infection and lameness. In addition, the vessel experienced rough conditions on the last few days of the voyage.
The department's veterinary officer closed the registered premises due to the wet conditions until the yards dried out.
The exporter (NACC) followed the livestock through to the importer's feedlots and monitored their health and welfare over the days following arrival to ensure the full recovery of the livestock.
The exporter reviewed their policies for monitoring weather patterns to better prepare for adverse weather conditions. They also load additional sawdust and chaff (above ASEL requirements) for heavy cattle.
View the consignment 60 report in detail – Cattle exported by sea to Vietnam in March 2016.
Respiratory disease was the main factor contributing to the mortalities.
The department did not take any regulatory action against the exporter.
View the consignment 59 report in detail – Sheep and goats exported by air to Malaysia in August 2015.
The investigation found inadequate ventilation (failure of the main system) during a transit stop causing increased temperatures, humidity, carbon dioxide and ammonia levels were the main factors contributing to the mortalities.
The exporter will engage the services of a groom to accompany all full freighter consignments that require transit stops. In addition, instructions to the captain will stipulate that the ventilation system must be started on taxi after landing. The exporter has also advised that they will not ship livestock on routes that require transit stops that do not provide back-up ground ventilation systems.
The department requires all exporters have an air risk management plan that addresses risks associated with ventilation failure during transit stops.
View the consignment 58 report in detail – Cattle exported by sea to Thailand in February 2015.
The department could not determine a definitive cause of the mortalities. An extended period in the registered premises combined with the wet conditions contributed to the increased levels of lameness resulting in a number of animals rejected. Post mortems completed by the stockperson on board showed no obvious abnormalities and no additional laboratory testing was completed.
In response to this incident, the exporter prepared a high risk cattle management plan. The management plan includes, a more stringent selection process, when possible, delaying deliveries of cattle to the registered premises, so they are not held for an extended period and continuing with bovine respiratory disease vaccination.
View the consignment 56 report in detail – Cattle exported by sea to Japan in January 2015.
The investigation found respiratory disease and injuries sustained as a result of very rough weather during the voyage were the main factors contributing to the mortalities.
An AAV accompanied the consignment to report on the health and welfare of the livestock.
Cattle were vaccinated according to the manufacturer's recommendation with a vaccine against Mannheimia haemolytica and Bovine Herpes Virus Type 1 (to protect against Bovine Respiratory Disease and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Virus).
Since then the department has also applied conditions to include bedding (sawdust) on consignments of cattle exported from Brisbane to Japan and have continued to require vaccination against Mannheimia haemolytica and Bovine Herpes Virus Type 1 (to protect against Bovine Respiratory Disease and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis Virus).
View the consignment 57 report in detail – Buffalo exported by sea to Vietnam in October 2014.
After investigation no definitive cause for the mortalities could be determined. The cause was likely multifactorial, including an overload of buffalo and stress during mustering and trucking.
The exporter (SEALS) advised buffalo suppliers not to muster buffalo under hot conditions and to monitor buffalo during transition following mustering.
The exporter considered that the overload occurred due to human error. They have invested in staff training and systems, and reviewed their Approved Arrangement, to prevent any future loading errors.
View the consignment 55 report in detail – Cattle exported by sea to Vietnam in October 2014.
The department concluded the mortalities were caused by injuries and pneumonia.
The department required an Australian Government Accredited Veterinarian to accompany the exporter's next consignment to Vietnam on this vessel.
The exporter advised on subsequent voyages cattle were vaccinated against pneumonia and provided a lower pen density and additional bedding. The exporter now vaccinates cattle at risk of pneumonia, and no longer sources the breed of cattle associated with this mortality event.
View the consignment 54 report in detail – Cattle exported by sea to Philippines in October 2014.
The investigation found that the main cause of mortality was bovine respiratory disease.
The department required an AAV to accompany the next consignment by this exporter using the same vessel.
The result of the voyage was a mortality rate of 0.21% (5 out of 2371 cattle loaded).
View the consignment 53 report in detail – Sheep exported by air to Singapore in October 2014.
The investigation found that the airline's explanation of inadequate ventilation due to an underperforming air conditioning pack is the most likely cause of the mortalities.
Changing several components of the air conditioning pack.
Adding additional checks to the climate control system before clearance of the aircraft for livestock transport.
Providing extra briefing to the crew about monitoring the environmental control system when transporting livestock.
As of 16 April 2015 and after resuming carriage of livestock no further mortalities or other issues have been reported on this aircraft.
View the consignment 52 report in detail – Cattle exported by sea to China in February 2014.
The investigation found that the main cause of mortality was euthanasia due to injuries sustained as a result of bad weather during the voyage.
The department required an AAV to accompany the next consignment by this exporter. There were no mortalities reported on this voyage.
View the consignment 51 report in detail – Cattle and sheep exported to Israel and Jordan in January 2014.
During the voyage, the ship experienced mechanical failure, which slowed its progress and significantly extended the length of the voyage. Subsequent to this additional fodder was required en route.
The investigation determined the cause of the majority of mortalities was ruminal acidosis as the result of a sudden change in fodder.
The department required the exporter to load an additional seven days of fodder (four days in addition to ASEL requirements) on the next voyage of this vessel longer than 10 days.
Developing procedures to match the composition of fodder on board with any fodder loaded onto the vessel en route.
View the consignment 50 report in detail – Cattle exported by sea to Vietnam in January 2014.
The result of the voyage was a mortality rate of 0.14% (2 out of 1388 cattle loaded).
View the consignment 49 report in detail – Sheep exported by air to Malaysia in November 2013.
The investigation found that the airline's explanation of inadequate ventilation in the forward cargo hold due to an intermittent defect is the most likely cause of the mortalities.
that animals are exported using two double tiered crates and two single tiered crates only.
As of 24 December 2013 seven consignments have been exported with no mortalities reported.
View the consignment 48 report in detail – Cattle exported by air to Kazakhstan in October 2013.
The investigation found that inadequate ventilation within the double crates is the most likely cause of the mortalities.
Full freighter consignments of cattle (i.e. entire cargo) to be exported using single tiered crates only.
The exporter resumed exports of cattle to Kazakhstan by air and as of 30 November 2013, they had completed four consignments of 1165 cattle with no mortalities reported.
From 30 November 2013 the department has required the preparation of an Air Risk Management Plan for exporters using double tier crates to export cattle. Between 30 November 2013 and 31 January 2014 480 cattle have been exported by air to various destinations with no mortalities.
View the consignment 47 report in detail – Cattle exported by air to China in September 2013.
The investigation found that a definitive cause of the mortalities could not be determined, but from the information available, inadequate ventilation in the region of two crates caused increased temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide and ammonia levels is suspected as the most likely cause of the mortalities.
Following this incident the exporter has not exported any animals.
View the consignment 46 report – Adelaide and Fremantle to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
The main cause of mortalities was heat stress, accounting for 97% of mortalities. Mortalities spiked on day 21 when the vessel encountered extreme weather conditions.
The department approved the subsequent consignment which departed Australia in November 2013 subject to a condition that the sheep be provided with 10% additional space over minimum requirements. The result for the consignment was 182 mortalities out of 77,095 sheep loaded, a mortality rate of 0.24%. The Australian Government Accredited Veterinarian reported that there was no evidence of heat stress during the voyage.
View the consignment 45 report in detail – Cattle exported by sea to Japan in May 2013.
No definitive cause for the mortalities could be determined. A combination of bovine respiratory disease (BRD), cool weather before export resulting in poor acclimatisation to the high temperature and humidity during the voyage and rough shipping conditions may have contributed to the mortalities.
The department applied conditions to the exporter's next consignment to Japan, including that an Australian Accredited Veterinarian accompany the consignment to report on the health and welfare of the livestock, and that the cattle be provided with an additional 10% space above that required by the ASEL. Cattle were also required to be vaccinated according to the manufacturer's recommendation with a vaccine against Mannheimia haemolytica (to protect against BRD).
This consignment departed Brisbane on 3 July 2013. Four mortalities occurred during the voyage (mortality rate 0.36%).
View the consignment 44. Brisbane to Japan report in detail..
None of the cattle that died were identified as being sick or injured prior to death. High temperature and humidity from the start of the voyage resulting in heat stress may have contributed to some of the mortalities.
The department applied conditions to the exporter's next consignment to Japan. This consignment departed Brisbane on 10 February 2013. No mortalities occurred during the voyage. Subsequent to the mortality incident, the owners of the ship also improved the vessel's ventilation system to address areas of poor air flow.
View the consignment 43. Brisbane to Japan report in detail.
No definitive cause for the mortalities. High temperature and humidity developed from the start of the voyage causing heat stress, which may have contributed to some of the mortalities.
The department applied conditions to the exporter's next consignment to Japan. This consignment departed Brisbane on 18 May 2012.
No mortalities occurred during the voyage.