Australian exported dairy cows and calves starve and die.

Ethically live export needs to end. But while it continues, there can be no justification for completely abandoning certain animals to the risk of abject cruelty on the arbitrary basis that they will give birth in their destination.

Animals Australia

Animals Australia team

Last updated September 18, 2012

Despite intense public scrutiny of the cruel live export trade, tens of thousands of breeding animals are slipping through a veritable live export ‘loophole’. As seen on ABC’s 7:30 program, the consequences are horrifying…

This story begins with a shipment of heavily pregnant Australian dairy cows sent to Qatar. Though the risks they faced were no less than other exported animals, they were not part of any Government-sanctioned ‘supply chain’. In fact, when breeding animals leave Australia, no-one knows exactly where they will end up, or what suffering might await them.

Due to the brave efforts of two Australian whilstleblowers, shocking images reveal the extent of cruelty and neglect that these animals have been forced to endure. Within a one week period, one in every four animals died of thirst or malnutrition. Mother cows, unable to nourish their calves, helplessly watched on as their babies perished in the squalid conditions.

Alarmingly, these aren’t the first animals to suffer harrowing deaths on this property. Of 10,000 Australian ‘breeding sheep’ who arrived in February, only 3,000 remain alive. Many of the lambs born to these undernourished animals also perished.

The images are tragic, in every respect. But even more tragic, is that soon, hundreds more Australian dairy cattle will be sent to this same notorious property in Qatar — unless we stop it.

Ending live export

For as long as this cruel trade in living beings exists — we remain as committed as ever to sparing animals from falling victim to it. Will you join us?

Please spare 1 minute now to lend your voice to the animals — and help create a world free from the horror of live export.

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