Report 244: MV Ocean Ute

Livestock: 4,716 cattle

Vessel: MV Ocean Ute

Loading location: Townsville

Discharge location: Panjang, Indonesia

Voyage length: 14 days

Independent Observer: Boarded at Townsville and remained onboard until completion of discharge.

Voyage mortality rate: 0.21% (10 mortalities). These mortalities are unlikely to be linked to any systemic failure by the exporter

Notifiable mortality rate: 0.5% for cattle

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

One of the cattle was identified to have fractured a leg during the loading process and was euthanised. This was reported to the observer.

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 cattle were not fed chaff on days 13 and 14 during discharge. The Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL) requires that at least 1% of the required feed is chaff or hay. No adverse effects on animal health and welfare were observed as a result of chaff not being fed.

Ventilation

The maximum wet bulb deck temperature reported during the voyage was 30°C, which was recorded on day 6 on deck 3 and day 7 on decks 3, 4 and 5. The recorded daily maximum wet bulb temperatures ranged from 23°C to 30°C during the voyage There were no health or welfare impacts observed due to the temperatures through the voyage.

The observer noted that temperatures recorded at known hotspots near the engine room on decks 3 and 4 were 1 to 2 degrees higher than other sections of those decks. No livestock health and welfare impacts, as a result of temperature, were observed in cattle in pens surrounding the engine room.

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

Pen conditions

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

Health and welfare

No systemic issues observed.

The accredited stockperson reported that:

1. During the voyage, 35 cattle were treated. Conditions treated included lameness, ill-thrift (shy-feeder), respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions.
2. A total of 10 cattle mortalities occurred on this voyage, with 4 mortalities euthanised and 6 found deceased.
3. Post mortems were performed for 6 mortalities, with all 6 attributed to respiratory disease. Post mortems were deemed unnecessary for the other 4 mortalities due to clear clinical signs, with 3 mortalities attributed to respiratory disease and the other was euthanised due to a fractured leg.

Discharge

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

No adverse animal health and welfare outcomes arising from exporter arrangements were observed, the department required the exporter to review, amend and vary their processes as required to ensure livestock on future voyages are fed chaff as required by the ASEL standard 5.3.7.