Livestock travel safely in custom vessels and in most cases will even put on weight during their voyage. Livestock will adapt to their new environment within the first day or so and start to settle into a consistent routine. Below is some commonly asked information about voyages including, voyage length, management of deck/flooring, ventilation, daily routine.
Voyage Length
The most common voyages for sheep are from Western Australia to the Middle East and cattle are exported from various ports to South East Asia from Northern Australia. There are other markets and ports and the current industry statistics can be found HERE.
The average time frame for some voyages as an example is as follows:
Broome to Jakarta is approximately 3.5 days
Darwin to Jakarta is approximately 4.5 days
Townsville to Jakarta is approximately 8 days
Broome to Ho Chi Minh City is approximately 6 days
Darwin to Ho Chi Minh City is approximately 6.5 days
Townsville to Ho Chi Minh City is approximately 9.5 days
Fremantle to Kuwait approximately 13 days*
Fremantle to Saudi Arabia approximately 12 days
* there are often multiple stops before the final destination
Deck Management
Dedicated stockpeople and on some voyages veterinarians care and oversee animal health and welfare.
Cattle – Depending on the voyage length, cattle decks may or may not be washed. Often the voyages to South East Asia are too short to require a wash and when the pad is dry, it becomes comfortable bedding for the animals. When cattle are on long haul voyages, washing is planned in accordance with where the vessel is currently situated on the water as there are environmental laws to take into consideration when it comes to washing in certain areas of the ocean. Deck washes on long haul voyages are often planned well in advance to ensure the rules throughout various marine areas around the world are adhered to.
Sheep – Sheep decks don’t get washed during a voyage because sheep manure is dry and forms a pad of soft bedding when it gets trampled down. This is similar to the yard areas on-farm that hold sheep.
Washing sheep decks would make the conditions humid and flooring underfoot very slippery, which is not ideal for a woolly animal.
Ventilation
Each vessel has different ventilation systems. There are large numbers of supply and exhaust fans taking fresh air in and then removing it to ensure a constant circulation. Each fan is fitted with an alarm system which can alert onboard engineers and electricians if they need to be serviced. . Vessels are also fitted with additional fans as part of their contingency planning.
Ventilation systems on livestock vessels are now independently verified and this report is sent to the Australian Federal Government. The Pen Air Turnover (PAT) is verified and these figures are used in the Heat Stress Model when planning the voyage.
Daily care and routine of livestock
Aside from the general personnel required for the ship, competent stock handlers are required for every journey. These individuals can consist of crew members which have the required animal handling skills or more commonly, an accredited stockperson.
During the journey, vessels have a minimum of 1 competent stock handler per 30,000 sheep or 3000 cattle. On top of this an Australian accredited veterinarian is required on all journeys unless meeting exceptions of the export code. The competent stock handler and veterinarian work closely with the crew to ensure the common goal of high animal welfare is achieved.
Daily duties include providing freshwater, clean feed, dry bedding and the monitoring of animals – ensuring sick or injured sheep are removed and treated.
Watch the video below to learn more about the voyage of sheep and cattle via sea.