Report 239: MV Galloway Express

Livestock: 3,138 cattle

Vessel: MV Galloway Express

Loading location and date: Wyndham, 3 to 4 July 2023

Vessel departure date: 4 July 2023

Discharge location and dates: 

• Panjang, Indonesia, on 9 July 2023
• Belawan, Indonesia, from 12 to 13 July 2023

Voyage length: 11 days

Independent Observer (observer): Boarded at Wyndham and disembarked from the vessel at Belawan on 12 July 2023.

Voyage mortality rate: 0.01% (3 mortalities). These mortalities are unlikely to be linked to any systemic failure by the exporter.

Notifiable mortality rate: 0.5%

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

The observer noted that:

1. By visual appraisal, cattle in some pens appeared to vary by more than 50kg from the pen average weight, and some appeared to vary by up to 100kg from pen-mates, not in accordance with ASEL standard 5.3.1b.
   1. The stockperson re-penned livestock during the first few days of the voyage, however approximately 13 pens still contained cattle that appeared to have over 50kg variance from the pen average weight.
   2. The weight differences could not be confirmed as individually weighing animals once they are on a vessel is not possible. No adverse impacts on animal health were observed as a result of this apparent size disparity
2. The load plan overstocked more than half of each deck by one animal per pen. This resulted in cattle being loaded into overstocked pens. The stockperson and crew were observed reshuffling livestock over the first few days of the voyage to ease spacing for cattle. No adverse animal health or welfare effects were observed as a result of the overstocking.
3. The load plan did not give additional space for the majority of horned livestock as per the exporter’s arrangements, resulting in overstocking of horned livestock in most of their pens. No adverse animal health or welfare effects were observed as a result of overstocking these animals.

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.

Ventilation

The observer noted that:

1. During the voyage, a known hotspot close to the engine stack bulkhead on deck 4 aft had a slight increase in wet bulb temperature compared to surrounding pens, however there was less than 1°C difference throughout the voyage. Cattle in these pens were not observed to be open mouth panting at any point and no adverse impacts on animal health or welfare were observed.
2. The hottest period of the voyage occurred on day 7, with a wet bulb temperature of 29°C. No open mouth panting was observed and there were no evident negative health effects.

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

No systemic issues observed.

The stockperson reported that:

1. During the voyage, there were 43 treatments to cattle for conditions including lameness, limb issues and general health concerns. Some cattle requiring treatment were moved to hospital pens, and others treated within their original pens.
2. A total of 3 mortalities occurred on this voyage. All mortalities were found deceased and were not euthanased.
3. Post mortems were performed by the stockperson for 2 mortalities, with the causes identified as respiratory disease. The stockperson reported that 1 post mortem was not required as it was clear the animal had died due to suffocation as a result of misadventure.

Discharge

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

While no adverse animal health and welfare outcomes arising from exporter arrangements were observed, the department required the exporter to review, amend and vary as required, their processes for the management of penning arrangements to ensure:

• livestock are penned in accordance with the loading plan,
• horned livestock are given adequate space, and
• livestock are penned within 50kg of their pen’s average weight.

The department conducted additional inspections on a subsequent voyage for the exporter.