Report 235: MV Maysora - Cattle and sheep exported to Israel and Jordan in April 2023

Livestock: 9,252 cattle and 28,344 sheep

Vessel: MV Maysora

Loading location and date: Fremantle, 11 to 13 April 2023

Vessel departure location and date: Fremantle, 15 April 2023

Discharge location and dates:

• Eilat, Israel: 3 to 4 May 2023
• Aqaba, Jordan: 5 May 2023

Voyage length: 25 days

Independent Observer (observer): Boarded at Fremantle and remained onboard until completion of discharge in Aqaba, Jordan.

Voyage mortality rate: 0.29% for cattle (27 mortalities) and 0.05% for sheep (14 mortalities). These mortalities are unlikely to be linked to any systemic failure by either exporter.

Notifiable mortality rate: 0.5% for cattle, 1% for sheep.

This report summarises key observations of the implementation and effectiveness of exporter arrangements to ensure the health and welfare of livestock. The report has been approved by the observer who accompanied the voyage.

Exporter documentation

The observer reported no issues regarding exporter documentation.

Loading

Based on observations made during this voyage, the exporter arrangements relating to loading were appropriate and effective in managing livestock health and welfare.

Personnel

Based on observations made during this voyage, the exporter arrangements relating to personnel were appropriate and effective in managing livestock health and welfare.

Daily routine

Based on observations made during this voyage, the exporter arrangements relating to daily routine were appropriate and effective in managing livestock health and welfare.

Feed and water

The observer noted that feed pellets which had broken down into fines (fodder dust) were evident on 3 decks throughout the voyage, with Deck 7 being the most affected. All affected troughs were cleaned out following each feed cycle. No adverse effects on animal health and welfare were observed as a result of the fodder dust.

Ventilation

1. On day 19 of the voyage, the observer recorded a maximum wet bulb temperature on Deck 4 which was up to 3 degrees higher (32.4°C) than the maximum wet bulb temperature reported by the Australian Accredited Veterinarian (AAV) (29°C).
2. On day 18 of the voyage, the observer recorded a maximum wet bulb temperature on Deck 7 which was up to 4 degrees higher (33.4°C) than the maximum wet bulb temperature reported by the AAV (29°C).

The observer noted that there was no panting or open mouth breathing observed in any of the livestock despite the high temperatures recorded during the voyage.

Pen conditions

The observer noted that manure pads were becoming sloppy during periods of high humidity and wet bulb temperatures. This issue was managed by the crew washing down the manure pads at three-day intervals until the discharge location was reached. No adverse effects on animal health were observed as a result of the sloppy pads.

Health and welfare

Based on observations made during this voyage, the exporter arrangements for managing health and welfare were appropriate.

The AAV reported that:

1. Respiratory issues were observed in some of the cattle in one consignment from the time they were loaded. Cattle showing signs of respiratory disease continued to be observed throughout the voyage and these were addressed by the implementation of management practices, and aggressive monitoring and treatment of the affected cattle. No adverse effects on animal health were observed for these cattle.
2. There were 221 treatments of cattle reported during the voyage. 124 of the treatments were for respiratory disease, and the remaining cattle were treated for conditions including lameness, eye disease and poor body condition.
3. There were 73 treatments of sheep reported during the voyage for conditions including eye disease, lesions around the mouth, lip or nose, wounds and poor body condition.
4. A total of 27 cattle mortalities and 14 sheep mortalities occurred on this voyage. The AAV euthanised 3 sheep and 3 cattle, and the remaining mortalities were found deceased.
5. Post-mortems were performed by the AAV on 39 of the mortalities, with the main causes identified as respiratory and gastrointestinal disease in the cattle, and enteritis and poor body condition in the sheep. The AAV reported that of the remaining two mortalities that did not have post-mortems conducted, the sheep was too decomposed and the cattle mortality was reported as smothered due to misadventure on the final day of the voyage.

Discharge

Based on observations made during this voyage, the exporter arrangements relating to discharge were appropriate and effective in managing livestock health and welfare.

The department discussed the incidence of respiratory disease with the relevant exporter with respect to sourcing and preparation of livestock under the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL) standards 1.1.6 and 3.1.15 and the exporter’s arrangements.

The department discussed with the shipboard AAV the temperature reading discrepancies and requirements for accurate reporting under ASEL standard 5.6.6. The AAV confirmed there was no heat stress observed in the livestock. Relevant exporters were notified of the discrepancy. This will be monitored on future voyages.