The livestock export industry is leading the charge in the development of innovative methods to further understand and enhance animal welfare.

The latest project aims to create a system capable of accurately interpreting the animal welfare data being collected on livestock export ships and providing insights to help inform decision-making to further improve welfare outcomes. A strategic collaboration has been formed between the Livestock Export RD&E Program and a research group led by the University of Western Australia to undertake this initiative.

If successful, the system will support decision-making by exporters and their on-board teams, based on real-time data on the welfare status of their livestock. It will also enable post-voyage evaluation of welfare outcomes and provide another avenue for transparent reporting of conditions on ships.