March 28, 2024

More than 100 Australian cattle on ship dead before reaching Indonesia

More than 100 Australian cattle have died on a live export ship to Indonesia — likely one of the highest mortality rates ever reported on an Australian cattle shipment.

The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has confirmed a number of cattle deaths were reported to the regulator over the weekend. A department spokesperson would not confirm the exact number but said there was "no suggestion that exotic animal disease is involved" such as foot and mouth disease or lumpy skin disease.

The department said it was investigating the deaths.

Under Australian regulations, an exporter must notify the government if a consignment's mortality rate is greater than 0.5% or three head of cattle, within 12 hours.

"We have been notified by a commercial exporter of an incident involving cattle deaths on a live export vessel exporting to Indonesia," the spokesperson said. "Australia remains free of exotic animal diseases such as lumpy skin disease and foot and mouth disease."

The cattle were likely shipped from Darwin and had been declared fit to travel by a government vet when loaded on the vessel.

- ABC News