Report 238: MV Maysora

Livestock: Two consignments totalling 4,952 cattle and 38,895 sheep.

Vessel: MV Maysora

Loading location and date: Fremantle, 27 May 2023

Vessel departure location and date: Fremantle, 29 May 2023

Discharge location and dates:

• Eilat, Israel, from 17 June to 18 June 2023
• Aqaba, Jordan 18 June to 20 June 2023.

Voyage length: 25 days

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

Voyage mortality rate: 0.1% (5 mortalities) for cattle and 0.054% (21 mortalities) for sheep. These mortalities are unlikely to be linked to any systemic failure by either exporter.

Notifiable mortality rate: 0.5% for cattle and 1.0% 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

1. The observer identified that approximately 5% of sheep across all decks were loaded with wool or hair over the 25mm maximum set out in the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL) standard 3.7.3.
   1. After loading, the regional veterinary officer raised the issue with the exporter, Accredited Veterinarian (AAV) and LiveCorp Accredited Stockperson (stockperson), who planned to redistribute sheep across the vessel to reduce the stocking density for affected sheep. The observer reported that this was completed by day 5 of the voyage.
2. Other than the above issue, based on observations made, 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 the voyage, the exporter arrangements relating to feed and water were appropriate and effective in managing livestock health and welfare.

Ventilation

The observer reported that:

1. Ventilation felt inadequate in an area under a stairwell not approved to house livestock.
2. A cow hospitalised in this location for a dislocated limb appeared heat affected. No heat stress score was assigned to this animal as it was heavily sedated. Crew promptly installed portable fans to provide it with ventilation.
3. There were no sheep or cattle observed as heat stressed (open mouth panting) for the duration of the voyage.
4. The highest wet bulb temperatures occurred over days 16 to 19, with the highest recorded as 32.6°C on day 16. The longest continuous period above 31°C wet bulb temperature was 9 hours and 20 minutes. No adverse animal health or welfare effects were observed as a result of the high wet bulb temperatures.

Pen conditions

The observer reported that:

1. On day 4, cattle and sheep were observed penned adjacent to each other and not separated by an impermeable barrier, as required by ASEL s5.1.1c. The observer alerted the AAV and stockperson and an effective barrier was installed to remedy this. No discernible negative health or welfare outcomes were observed on either species due to the inadequate separation.
2. Animals were moved during the voyage and placed in makeshift pens constructed under stairwells and ramps on deck 7 and deck 8. These areas were not listed as approved to house livestock on the load plan (against ASEL s5.1.1e). The observer understood this was done by the AAV to facilitate easier discharge of recovered animals upon arrival. Designated hospital pens were observed to be used for healthy sheep on all sheep decks. No negative health or welfare outcomes were observed as a direct result of housing animals in these areas.
3. On a number of occasions, sheep were observed caught in rails between pens, or having escaped from pens on deck 7. The AAV and Chief Officer discussed the issue of identification of misadventure during daily meetings. The ends of alleys were closed off to stop the escaped sheep from moving further throughout open decks.
   On Days 14 and 15, 2 pens on each of open decks 7 and 8 were affected by sea water spray from rough weather resulting in damp and isolated sloppy pad conditions. Sheep were promptly moved to share nearby unaffected pens and were returned to their original pens with sawdust applied after 24 to 48 hours. This was observed to be effective in managing the pen conditions for sheep.
4. The move resulted in temporary overstocking of sheep in pens with inter-pen gates opened to provide more space. No negative health or welfare issues were identified as a result of the temporary overstocking.

Health and welfare

The AAV reported that:

1. A total of 5 cattle and 21 sheep mortalities occurred on this voyage, 7 of which were euthanased. Post-mortems were performed by the AAV on 18 mortalities, with causes in both cattle and sheep identified as gastrointestinal disease or musculoskeletal injury.
2. During the voyage, there were 62 treatments of cattle and 133 treatments of sheep. Cattle were treated for conditions including respiratory disease, lameness and gut issues. Sheep were treated for conditions including gut issues, pink eye and limb or skin infections.

The observer identified that:

1. Approximately 5-10% of sheep destined to Israel and Jordan on decks 8, 9 and 10 were loaded with wool or hair over 25mm (ASEL s3.7.3). No sheep were observed with open mouth panting for the duration of the voyage. None of the voyage mortalities were considered to be caused by the effects of heat or excessive wool or hair length.
2. On deck 7, one sheep observed to be stuck between a pen railing without access to feed or water. The sheep was eventually freed by the observer and recovered following treatment. Another sheep was observed moribund in an alleyway from misadventure and identified to crew. No treatments were observed, and the animal was found deceased one and a half hours later.
3. A cow with a dislocated limb was moved to a makeshift hospital pen and sedated for treatment. The animal was euthanased the following day.

Discharge

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

For sheep, the observer reported that:

1. During discharge of sheep at Aqaba, Jordan, inappropriate handling techniques by import crew, including use of movement aids on sheep faces, was observed. The stockperson intervened to halt the practice and educate the crew, however the actions continued while unsupervised.
2. One pilot sheep was found deceased, believed by the observer to be because of smothering on the discharge ramp. The shipboard AAV was observed to temporarily halt discharge to rectify the situation.

The department took the following actions:

1. The department addressed non-compliances with the relevant exporter relating to:
   1. sheep with wool or hair longer than 25 mm in length (ASEL s3.7.3)
   2. housing of livestock in makeshift pens not in accordance with the load plan (ASEL s5.1.1e)
   3. systematic inspection of livestock for signs of misadventure (ASEL s5.6.2a) and prompt assessment including treatment and euthanasia if necessary (ASEL s5.6.3)
2. The department discussed the voyage with the shipboard AAV. The AAV was required to review and amend their processes to ensure that areas on the vessel not approved on the load plan are not used to house livestock for future voyages.
3. The department increased the level of inspection and verification activities at the registered establishment and on the vessel for the relevant exporter’s next two consignments of sheep and directed the exporter to provide additional daily and end-of-voyage reporting.

The department commenced an Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) investigation into the non-compliant handling of sheep during discharge in Jordan. Outcomes of ESCAS investigations are published on the department’s website.