More than 500 sheep died from starvation and infections during a two-month journey to the Middle East. The live-export ship Al Messilah, containing about 67,000 sheep left Port Adelaide in August but broke down shortly after leaving Australia. Documents obtained under freedom of information law show that, in the 10 days at sea, 298 of the animals died before the ship returned to port. The livestock were then divided into two shipments on board the Al Messilah and the Al Shuwaikh, but a further 206 sheep died before they reached their final destinations. Agriculture Department Executive, Jenny Cupit said the government limits its investigations to voyages in which more than two percent of sheep die. “The sheep were healthy, well-rested and fully adapted to the diet that they would receive on board the vessel. There was no basis to conclude that their delivery to the Middle East would be anything other than satisfactory,” said Cupit. Animals Australia's Executive Director, Glenys Oogjes disagrees, “Two percent is way too high. It doesn't provide for the investigation of most shipments, and there means that the lessons that could be learnt from those problems are not being learnt … In any event, no deaths on these ships are acceptable anyway.” Australia's live sheep exports have fallen significantly over the past decade. In 2010, three million sheep were exported compared with 6.3 million in 2001. BM
