05/06/2023
The University of New England (UNE) has just completed a series of trials on a livestock export ship travelling to the Middle East, to collect scientifically backed evidence on the welfare of sheep under actual voyage conditions, and validate the findings from previous land-based experiments.
It is one of the final phases in a project partnership with the Livestock Export RD&E Program, which is aimed at understanding the interaction between stocking density, ammonia production and bedding, when it comes to the welfare of both sheep and cattle on ships.
One of the UNE team travelled on a voyage from Fremantle, closely monitoring more than 500 animals across multiple pens on the ship. Their role was simply to observe, leaving the work of caring for the livestock to the Australian Accredited Veterinarian, LiveCorp Accredited Stockperson, and the ships’ crew. An Australian Government Independent Observer was also on the vessel.
The number of sheep in each pen was aligned with the allometric stocking density required by the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL) for a voyage in the ‘shoulder period’ ahead of the northern hemisphere summer.
The sheep were assessed three times a day, on behaviour such as eating, drinking, standing, lying and respiration rates. Environmental conditions were also measured, including air ammonia concentration, pad condition and sea swell. The weight and body condition of five sheep from each of eight pens was also recorded at the start and end of the voyage.
At the end of the voyage, a small experiment was conducted to test the rate of ammonia volatilisation from the faecal pad of various pens. Once the sheep had been discharged, the researcher also measured the depth and temperature of the pad in the selected pens.
Once analysed, the results will create a body of evidence and practical knowledge on the factors that influence pad moisture and ammonia, and guide the development of practical recommendations for the industry on the dietary, airflow and bedding management practices required to manage pad moisture and reduce on-board ammonia accumulation.
The final report from the overall project, including the results from this voyage, is expected by mid 2024.
The LEP RD&E Program and UNE thank the exporter, and the Captain and crew of the ship, for their support of the trials.