Now and Then

So If you don’t know there’s been some terrible cow slaughter in Indonesia brought to light recently particularly here in Australia because the seven or so places were receiving some Australian cattle. Leading to a six month live export ban to Indonesia. Now I want to bring to light some things apart from the animal cruelty because that has been covered thoroughly by many people so far, and although I in no way agree with it there are other things I think are also important.

Since being in the vet course I have joined the student run cow group ( and the ethics one and a few others) and I have had a chance to hear from and meet people in the business, go to sale yards and talk to other students about our live export industry. It’s not as easy as just saying we should shut it down. The people I have met have been amazing and all genuinely cared for these animals and where they were going to end up. We have laws and regulations and piles of paperwork that go into the shipping part. Programs have been set up in countries to help with both holding yards, feedlots, unloading and slaughter. I am by no means saying it is perfect and that we can stop all that goes on but there are certainly people trying.

Why not just send it all over done up and frozen you ask? Well we do send a lot already for supermarkets but there is still a demand for live animals. Halal slaughter is sometimes an issue, although we do have Hala abattoir’s here with representatives from the countries inspecting the work. Also people in these countries teaching acceptable stunning methods to avoid pain in Hala slaughter. Not all people can afford the more expensive packaged meat either or want animals for festivals. Such as Eid al-Adha or “Festival of Sacrifice” or “Greater Eid” an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a ram to sacrifice instead. The meat is divided into three parts. The family retains one third of the share; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors; and the other third is given to the poor & needy.

These countries that import animals do so because they can not successfully grow their own to meet demand. If countries such as Australia who are working to make the industry better do not supply them some one else will.
Now specifically to the cow issue and how the six month ban should not let you sleep easy because they are now saving the cows. There are now cow’s stuck in limbo with no where to go (who were going to Indonesia but not just the ones that would have ended up where the problem is, all of them.) These cows can’t weigh more than 350kg ( Although animals have to be a healthy weight to be shipped also) before sailing because they are being sent to feed lots over seas to be fed up for slaughter. This means that because they are sold the farmer can’t take them back but they are not large enough to go straight to and abattoir. We also don’t have enough abattoirs to deal with the numbers. So what do we do with them?

Once the six month ban is up it will be past mustering season and the wet season will kick in. this means that farmers miss out on a whole years pay. This will be devastating for a lot of families. Who will struggle to supply water and adequate food to their animals until next season.
You will find no argument from me about the countries economy because the animals are important and we can’t ignore the issue but at the same time I don’t think it has been handled well by the government.

If you want to discuss the topic further I will be happy to but I will ignore anyone who just wants to hate on me, and my views on the matter, in an inappropriate way.