Sheep death toll ‘unacceptable’

Press, 15 January 1986, Page 5

Sheep death toll ‘unacceptable’

The number of sheep that died on the Merino Express’s 20-day voyage to Mexico has been condemned as “unacceptable” by the national director of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Mr Neil Wells.

Of the 17,461 sheep loaded at Timaru before Christmas, about 430 had died en route to Manzarillo, said the general manager of Animal Enterprises, Ltd, Mr Don Tate.

The 2.4 per cent loss was considered acceptable by those involved in the business, but in the company’s opinion was too high, he said yesterday.

Mr Wells said: “It’s too high in our opinion, too. Some live sheep shipments to the Middle East have less than 1 per cent loss rate and I would have expected

a lower loss rate on this ship. It had been in the interests of everyone involved in the shipment to set a good example, he said. “The fact that so many died only supports our original point, that death is built in to this trade.

“There is no way of transporting animals without deaths occurring. The only way to prevent it is to stop exports.” He criticised Animal Enterprises for not taking action on advice offered by experts before the ship left. Mr Tate said yesterday that the company had hoped to keep the stock deaths to 1 per cent. Animal Enterprises would like losses reduced and executive staff intended to talk to the two veterinarians who had travelled on the Merino Express when

they returned, he said. Seventy per cent of the ewes when they were unloaded were able to be sent straight to an abattoir for killing. Most of. the remainder would be sent after a few days rest, he said.

The buying consortium which had met the stock was happy with its condition.

Mr Wells said officers of the World Society for the Protection of Animals intended to stay with the sheep for the 750km'truck journey from the port to the feed lot.

“That trip will take two days, under Mexican conditions. From that point they will be sold off to slaughter houses — and I’m told the way they are treated in Mexican slaughterhouses is horrific, to say the least,” he said.