Report 232: MV Maysora - Cattle and sheep exported to Israel, Jordan and Oman in February 2023

Livestock: 5,146 cattle and 42,557 sheep

Vessel: MV Maysora

Loading location and date: Fremantle, 23 to 24 February 2023

Vessel departure location and date: Fremantle, 25 February 2023

Discharge location and dates:

• Eilat, Israel: 14 to 16 March 2023
• Aqaba, Jordan: 16 March 2023
• Muscat, Oman: 24 March 2023

Voyage length: 29 days

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

Voyage mortality rate: 0.25% for cattle (13 mortalities) and 0.05% for sheep (20 mortalities). These mortalities are unlikely to be linked to any systemic failure by the exporter.

Notifiable mortality rate: 0.5% for cattle, 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

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

The observer noted that the feed pellets which had broken down into fines (fodder dust) were always removed by the crew members prior to the provision of new pellets. No pellet fines were observed to be coming out from the feed shoots. No direct adverse animal health and welfare was 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

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

Health and welfare

The Australian Accredited Veterinarian reported that:

1. There were 67 treatments of cattle reported during the voyage for conditions including respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disease and lameness.
2. There were 59 treatments of sheep reported during the voyage for conditions including inanition and lameness.
3. A total of 13 cattle mortalities and 20 sheep mortalities occurred on this voyage.
   Post-mortems were performed by the AAV on 31 of the mortalities, with the main causes identified as respiratory disease in the cattle, and enteritis and inanition in the sheep. One sheep and one cow were euthanised due to a fractured limb.

Additionally, the observer noted that there were a small number of sheep identified with Scabby Mouth which were segregated in a hospital pen and treated as required. No welfare issues were observed for these sheep.

Discharge

On the two previous voyages on the MV Maysora, a cow escaped during discharge onto Eilat port (Report #229 and #231).

During discharge at Eilat port for this voyage, the trailers of the trucks had a manual sliding door system in place which were observed to always be fully closed and secured prior to the truck moving. The observer noted no escaped animals during discharge at any port.

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

No adverse animal health and welfare outcomes arising from exporter arrangements were observed, and no regulatory action was taken for this voyage.