Phasing out live sheep export

The RSPCA has welcomed the historic passage through Parliament of a legislated end date to live sheep export.

RSPCA Australia CEO Richard Mussell said that from 1 May 2028, sheep wil no longer be sent on long-haul journeys that the animal welfare science overwhelmingly tells us puts them at a great risk of suffering.

What are the issues with live sheep export?

Australia’s live sheep trade has resulted in multiple animal welfare catastrophes and publicly documented cruelty over the past forty years. Despite significant regulatory changes over the past five years, ongoing animal welfare issues continue. Scientific evidence shows that no amount of regulation can fix the trade because it exposes sheep to conditions that exceed the species’ physiological limits.
The main welfare concerns relate to, but are not limited to:

transport, handling and holding prior to embarkation,
stocking densities that prevent animals from comfortably lying down to rest or prevent animals from freely accessing food and water as needed,
the conditions animals experience onboard ships, which often result in inanition (failure to eat), lameness, infectious diseases, heat stress, respiratory diseases, and death,
extreme changes in climatic conditions from the farm of origin to the importing country,
inadequate contingency planning for when animals are rejected at the ports of importing countries due to not being fit for travel, and
poor handling and inhumane slaughter practices in the importing countries.

On 1 July 2024, the government announcement that live sheep exports will be phased out on 1 May 2028 provides Australia with opportunities for more sustainable trade, better animal welfare, and an improved international reputation.

What’s the alternative?

A more humane alternative to live sheep exports is to process sheep in Australia and foster chilled and frozen meat-exports only. Evidence supports that this market alternative will result in better welfare for sheep, more sustainable opportunities for farmers and more jobs for Australians.

You can read the latest announcement of live sheep export by sea here. You can also learn more about RSPCA’s stance against live export here.

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