Continuous improvement in the welfare of cattle during live export voyages is a priority for the industry and community. Although mortality and morbidity numbers are exceptionally low, further enhancements in welfare management are being prioritised - particularly in key areas such as bedding management and thermal comfort on board, and prevention and treatment of lameness.
Bedding plays a key role in maintaining cattle cleanliness, comfort, and welfare. Effective bedding management helps address health issues such as bovine respiratory disease, pink eye, and lameness. Ensuring thermal comfort is essential for animal wellbeing, especially when transporting cattle through hotter climates, such as equatorial regions.
The project will build on existing knowledge to create practical guidelines that further minimise welfare risks and enhance overall animal wellbeing, focusing on prevention and proactive management of these key areas.
This project is managed by the Livestock Export RD&E Program, a collaboration between LiveCorp and Meat & Livestock Australia.
Conduct a comprehensive literature review and scoping study on the prevention, management and treatment of lameness, and management of bedding and thermal comfort on livestock export voyages.
Analyse industry data to identify key factors contributing to lameness, pad condition, and thermal comfort during livestock export voyages, especially for heavy cattle and voyages going to or through hotter climatic regions.
Develop a best practice management guide to enhance cattle welfare - addressing bedding, lameness, and thermal comfort for live cattle exports, tailored for shipboard contexts, and ensuring practical, scalable solutions.
This project will deliver evidence-based guidelines tailored to the unique conditions of live cattle exports. The guidelines will be practical and adaptable, allowing for implementation across different vessel types and voyage conditions. By balancing operational considerations with cattle welfare, this project will enhance animal wellbeing while supporting efficient and sustainable livestock export practices.