Company reduces sheep trade toll

Press, 24 June 1986, Page 31

Company reduces sheep trade toll

PA Dunedin An Australian company may have the solution to the problem that threatens New Zealand’s live sheep export trade. Record deaths were recorded on a recent shipment of lambs to Saudi Arabia, and these prompted an inquiry by Sir Laurie Francis, a former New Zealand High Commissioner in Canberra. He has reported that techniques developed by an Adelaide company significantly reduced the number of deaths in live sheep shipments. The latest New Zealand shipment experienced 6 per cent deaths, compared with rates as low as 1.25 per cent using the Australian formula.

Sir Laurie said that after reading of fears expressed by Mr Neil Wells, national director of the S.P.C.A., that the record deaths on a recent Napier shipment might prompt an international backlash, he telephoned the Australian company to obtain comparative figures for live sheep shipments from Australia. He was told that a first shipment of 110,000 sheep had a death rate of 1.25 per cent. Succeeding shipments of the same number of sheep had 1.5 per cent and 1.6 per cent death rates. “New Zealand companies are not getting the right mix of food for the voyages,” said Sir Laurie. The Adelaide company, the Australian Saudi Arabian Livestock Com-

pany, Ltd, had developed a new feed pellet consisting of 50 per cent lucerne or meadow hay with some other protein content, but not containing much grain. The pellet was fed to the sheep for 10 days before embarkation and during the voyage. “The company has also discovered that if the sheep can see the water during the trip they will not eat, so its ships have been shrouded to cut off the sea view.” A hydraulic system is used to reduce dust and so prevent the disease red-eye. Sir Laurie said the company planned to set up in New Zealand soon. He understood that it owned three of four ships capable of carrying 130,000 sheep at a time. “In the present financial situation we just cannot afford to miss out on the Saudi Arabia market. The Saudis can get sheep from other countries, but they like our quality,” he said.