The exporting of live sheep is a divisive issue that has many caught between wanting Aussie farmers to make a living, and the ethical treatment of animals. The trade has sent 200 million animals to the Middle East in the past 30 years, and has killed two and a half million of them. In 2009 alone over 32 thousand sheep died while being transported by boat, with most deaths being a result of the sheep refusing to eat out of stress caused by the harsh conditions they face on the journey.
This is what the public had to say when asked how they felt about the live sheep trade:
21 year old snowboard instructor Brandon Mannah from Como Said:
“I saw some footage of it the other day and it was pretty awful. I eat meat all the time so I’ve never really cared about how animals are transported around or killed or anything like that, but I’ve never eaten a sheep. I think it’s a bit different to treat them that bad when we don’t even eat them afterwards. Why can’t we keep the sheep in one place and just transport the wool?”
Erskineville’s 19 year old UNSW science student, Asheley Goodwill, had this to say:
“Bad, it’s contributing to an ecological problem of over-consumption and the agricultural industry has a negative impact on animal welfare.”
Callum Saul, a 21 year old plumber from Loftus said:
“Haven’t ever really thought about to be honest. I’ve seen it talked about in the media a lot lately but I don’t really get why it’s such a big deal if the sheep aren’t dying.”
Lachlan Nicholson, a 21 year old UNSW student from Manly Vale said:
“I don’t like it, I think it’s animal cruelty.”
