EXPLAINER: The Live Export Industry
Time to stop claiming ignorance and educate yourself on the Live Export Industry - which the Federal Government is shutting down.
CONTEXT
I was recently conversing with someone who doesn’t have much knowledge or a vested interest in the agriculture industry, they commented that they didn’t really understand live export as a whole. They had very little knowledge about the process, the banning, and the fight to save the industry.
This explainer is for the people who are in the same position, for the people who don’t really understand what is going on surrounding the live export industry because I truly believe that everyone should understand and care about the fact that the Federal Government is shutting down an important industry for WA.
WHAT IS LIVE EXPORT?
Live Export refers to the commercial transport of livestock across national borders. For the purpose of this post, I will be focussing on the live export by sea industry. As it sounds, this is transporting live animals from Australia to other countries via ships.
Many countries trust in the health status and high quality of Australian sheep, as well as the quality genetics that we can provide. Live Export is not just for slaughter, sending sheep to other countries allows them to strengthen and breed their own livestock.
THE LIVE EXPORT INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA
Australia has one of the largest live export industries in the world - it is worth over $800 million per year and supports an incredibly high amount of rural and regional Australians.
This industry not only generates export income but also delivers solid returns for producers and underpins pricing.
Most live sheep are exported from WA, and it is an important industry here for sheep farmers.
ANIMAL WELFARE
Australia is recognised as leading the way in efforts to improve animal welfare in live export. As a country, we have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world throughout the supply chain.
Australia is the only country that regulates the standards of animal welfare in other countries and continually invests in training and auditing to ensure those standards are being met.
Means of ensuring animal welfare include "cattle comfort" and keeping an eye on the weight gained during transport (no weight gain = stress).
Of course, there are also very high husbandry practices for general care, food, water and shelter.
DOMESTIC PROCESSING IS NOT AN OPTION
Australia is currently in a labour shortage, there is no one to do the work. We do not have the extra people that would be required to increase the processing of these sheep within Australia.
There will be a sudden influx of sheep to domestic processing, before a dramatic drop as farmers move away from sheep all together. Why would we need these processing businesses if we have no sheep? Loss of business, loss of livelihood, loss of jobs.
NO LIVE EXPORT =
= Australia is no longer able to be a positive force for change in regard to global animal welfare.
= We are no longer able to provide safe, high-quality live sheep to people in overseas countries, meaning they have a higher chance of breeding and consuming unsafe meat.
= Many sheep producers face uncertain futures. With increased exposure to markets and poor seasonal conditions there will be impacts on risk management, our environmental impact and economic viability.
= The price of Australian sheep will decline, and in turn, so will future investments into the livestock industry as a whole.
ON FARM IMPACTS
Banning live export will reduce the environmental sustainability of farming enterprises. Sheep are usually placed in paddocks that are not viable for cropping, no sheep means these paddocks will probably not be used. OR they will be used for cropping, therefore decreasing the diversity of the farm.
Less sheep will also result in poorer soil structure and carbon on farms. This will result in increased use of chemicals and synthetic fertilisers to try and reverse.
Less sheep = Poorer overall carbon footprint.
IMPACT ON REGIONAL COMMUNITIES
Not only will individual farming enterprises and families be affected by the banning of live export, but so will regional and rural communities, particularly in WA.
Uncertainty and change leading to poor mental health;
Loss of businesses and vital services;
Reduced employment opportunities including layoffs;
Decreased populations in rural areas leading to fewer numbers for community teams and school numbers.
IMPACT ON OTHER INDUSTRIES
The wool industry will undoubtedly suffer as farmers take steps away from sheep. WA currently contributes around 20% of the national wool production, a number that will significantly reduce, as well as the wool industry as a whole and its contribution to the Australian economy, currently around $800 million.
Fewer sheep = more grain for the already overloaded supply chain. This will bring the price of grains down and cost farmers billions of dollars. There will also be increased use of synthetic fertilisers and a decrease in soil quality.
I encourage everyone to continue looking into the live export industry after this quick explainer, don’t claim ignorance any longer.
