In 2010 Australia's live sheep export industry played a vital role in Australian agriculture, providing a profitable alternative market for sheep producers whilst underpinning domestic sheep prices. Australian live sheep exports continued to be highly regarded in Middle Eastern markets but domestic constraints saw sheep volumes drop below 3 million for the first time in 20 years. Despite the impact of drought conditions in Western Australia and a declining sheep flock, strong demand for quality Australian sheep exports kept the value of the trade steady at A$323 million.2.978 million head were exported to key live sheep export markets across the Middle East during 2010. The largest market was Kuwait, taking 1,076,455 head, followed by Bahrain with 515,731. Saudi Arabia saw the largest fall-off in supply due to cheaper available live sheep from Georgia, Sudan and Somalia as well as a reduction in vessel availability for Australian livestock following the retirement of the Merino Express.Australia's live sheep export industry continues to invest in animal welfare, and in partnership with the Australian Government delivered improvements in key overseas markets. In the Middle East these included assessing and upgrading facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, supplying new equipment to ports and abattoirs to improve livestock handling and stock flow and implementing new animal health systems in Bahrain.A program of livestock handler training continued, with handling specialists employed by the live sheep export industry targeting ports, ships, trucks, feedlots and abattoirs, with a mixture of formalised and on-the-job training. Industry representatives also provided technical and animal welfare advice to abattoir planning and design in Kuwait and sea port development in Qatar. In May, a delegation of feedlot managers, abattoir managers and veterinarians from the Middle East and North Africa region visited Australia to improve their understanding and knowledge of the Australian trade. The delegation visited farms, feedlots, pre export quarantine facilities, observed a vessel loading and met with industry and Government representatives, resulting in the adoption of new ideas in animal welfare and production being applied in the Middle East.The In the ute, not the boot program operated in Bahrain and Qatar again during 2010, with Australian animal welfare specialists helping ensure Australian sheep were transported appropriately from feedlots during the Eid al Adha festival. Australia's live sheep exporting industry also continues to provide a strong return to the Australian economy - an average of A$1 billion a year in export earnings for Australia since 2005-06 - and a recent report by the Centre of International Economics (CIE) found that 74%, or A$742 million, of these earnings go directly to livestock producers. The CIE evaluation found the industry provides significant flow-on benefits to livestock producers and regional economies, as well as providing producers with access to the broadest possible range of markets. It found that without the live sheep export trade saleyard prices would be 7.6% lower for lambs and 17.6% lower for older sheep, confirming that Australia's livestock export industry provides benefits for all producers.
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In 2010 Australia's live sheep export industry played a vital role in Australian agriculture, providing a profitable alternative market for sheep producers whilst underpinning domestic sheep prices. Australian live sheep exports continued to be highly regarded in Middle Eastern markets but domestic
sheep wool is always shorn prior to the export of live animals to ensure their wellbeing. You can find out more information about the welfare initiatives of the live export industry.
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