Report 229: MV Maysora - Cattle and sheep exported to Israel and Jordan in November 2022

Livestock: 3,995 cattle and 47,721 sheep

Vessel: MV Maysora

Loading location and date: Fremantle, from 27 to 29 November 2022

Discharge location and dates:

• Eilat, Israel from 17 to 19 December 2022
• Aqaba, Jordan from 19 to 20 December 2022

Voyage length: 24 days

Independent Observer (observer): Boarded at Fremantle and remained onboard until completion of discharge.

Voyage mortality rate: 0.15% (6 mortalities) for cattle and 0.21% (102 mortalities) for sheep. These mortalities are unlikely to be linked to any systemic failure by the exporter.

Notifiable mortality rate: 0.5% for cattle and 1% for sheep

This report summarises key observations of the implementation and effectiveness of exporter arrangements to ensure the health and welfare of livestock. The report has been approved by the observer who accompanied the voyage.

Exporter documentation

Relevant exporter documentation for the voyage was made available to the observer. The observer reported no issues regarding exporter documentation.

Loading

Based on observations made during this voyage, the exporter arrangements relating to loading were appropriate and effective in managing livestock health and welfare.

Personnel

Based on observations made during this voyage, the exporter arrangements relating to personnel were appropriate and effective in managing livestock health and welfare.

Daily routine

Based on observations made during this voyage, the exporter arrangements relating to daily routine were appropriate and effective in managing livestock health and welfare.

Feed and water

Based on observations made during this voyage, the exporter arrangements relating to feed and water were appropriate and effective in managing livestock health and welfare.

The observer noted that feed pellets broke down into fines (fodder dust), which was observed in troughs at varying times of day throughout the voyage. The livestock crew regularly removed fines from troughs and livestock were observed eating throughout each feed cycle with no direct adverse effects on animal health and welfare observed.

Ventilation

Based on observations made during this voyage, the exporter arrangements relating to ventilation were appropriate and effective in managing livestock health and welfare.

Pen conditions

The observer noted that:

1. Some smaller sheep were able to fit through pen railings on Decks 9, 10 and 11. Sheep were observed freely entering and leaving their pens in the first 3 days of the voyage and maintained access to feed and water. Whenever escaped sheep were identified, crew immediately returned them to their pen and closed railing gaps with pallets and tie wire. This issue was discussed during daily meetings, and all gaps were sufficiently covered by day 4. No further instances of escaped livestock occurred and there were no adverse effects on animal health and welfare noted for the escaped sheep.
2. Early in the voyage, the pad conditions were fair for cattle and sheep. Sawdust was applied for water spillages in pens and in open deck pens after rain when required and was observed to be effective in managing pad conditions.
3. Cattle decks were washed down to manage sloppy pads on days 6 to 7, 11 to 12 and 14 to 15. Bedding was applied to some cattle pens where required after wash down and no adverse effects on animal health and welfare were observed.

Health and welfare

The AAV reported that:

1. A total of 6 cattle mortalities and 102 sheep mortalities occurred on this voyage. Six sheep mortalities occurred during discharge in Eilat.
2. Post-mortems were performed by the AAV on 74 of the mortalities, with the main causes identified as respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disease and ill-thrift. Post-mortems were unable to be performed on 12 sheep as they had decomposed. The remaining mortalities did not require post-mortems as the cause of death was evident, including from poor body condition and injuries.
3. There were 36 treatments for cattle and 90 treatments for sheep. Conditions treated for included lameness, nasal discharge, injuries and inappetence.

Discharge

The observer noted that:

1. A truck did not fully back onto the discharge platform during discharge in Eilat. The resulting gap allowed a cow to escape into the port and fall into the water. The cow was retrieved by the stockperson and checked by the AAV. The animal was euthanised promptly and the truck was repositioned to close the gap. Discharge continued with no further health and welfare concerns observed for the cattle.
2. Whilst discharging sheep in Eilat, several sheep rushed the discharge ramp and climbed on top of each other, resulting in 6 smothering mortalities. The AAV immediately stopped the discharging process to remove pressure behind the group. Once the ramp had been cleared of sheep, discharge continued with no further sheep health and welfare concerns observed. Department actions

The department addressed the issues occurring at discharge with the exporter.