09 May 2008
PHOTOGRAPHS OF MIDDLE EAST ANIMAL WELFARE TRAINING AND FACILITIES
Delivering local sheep to Livestock Market, Kuwait
Transport of small lots of livestock occurs in various types of vehicles. This Nissan utility at a Livestock Market in Kuwait is fitted with specially designed and constructed sides to contain animals within the vehicle. As meat quality is high on the list of buyer preferences, there are more and more of these vehicles appearing in the market every day.
Delivering an Animal Welfare Course to Government Veterinary Officers in Cairo, Egypt
An important part of the Livestock Export Program is to cover all stakeholders that can influence animal welfare in the Middle East and Africa region. Specialist Livestock consultants with years of practical experience and technical scientific knowledge are used to provide a balanced program covering the physiology of animal welfare and the practical components of livestock handling. As a result of this program, a specialist Animal Welfare Unit has been established within the Egyptian Department of Veterinary Services.
Peter Dundon checking water temperature and quality at a feedlot, Oman.
Clean and cool water is highly desirable in animal production around the world. Feedlots in the Middle East are aware of this in their warm environment. The Livestock Export Program monitors water temperature in destination feedlots for Australian livestock throughout the Middle East. Peter Dundon is the Livestock Export Program’s Manager of Livestock Services in the Middle East and Africa region.
Good facilities and infrastructure are vital in facilitating smooth flow of livestock. This specially designed and constructed discharge trailer in Doha Port in Qatar allows the stress free, smooth flow of livestock from vessels onto semi-trailers. Efficient discharge ensures that sheep are transferred from one source of fresh feed and water on the ship to shaded pens with more feed and water at their feedlot destination. Most journeys from port to feedlots take less than one hour.
Importers know that fresh, cool and clean water is an important part of caring for their sheep. They also know that shade is equally important in warm environments. Feedlots importing Australian sheep focus on the provision of plenty of good quality food and water and adequate shade.
A Specialist Livestock Handling Consultant used in the Livestock Export Program in the Middle East and Africa region. Here he instructs a Nepalese Stockman at Bahrain Feedlot in drafting and counting techniques. Australian livestock behave differently from their local Arabic counterparts which have generally experienced lots of handling during their lifetime of hand-rearing. Australian sheep are grown in extensive grazing conditions with little human contact and are therefore much more sensitive to human contact. They respond much better to the handling techniques that are taught in the training program.
Peter Dundon is the Livestock Export Program’s Manager of Livestock Services in the Middle East and Africa region. For the past three years he has specialised in improving the facilities, practices and procedures in Middle East feedlots. Here he is providing training in livestock handling to stockmen at a feedlot in Kuwait.
Sharon Dundon is employed as a Specialist Livestock Consultant and lives and works in the Middle East. She is involved in monitoring the conditions and facilities in feedlot and abattoirs in the Middle East. At this feedlot in Dubai, the water for livestock is chilled, ensuring all have constant access to fresh clean and cool water.
Australian livestock behave differently from their local Arabic counterparts which have generally experienced lots of handling during their lifetime of hand-rearing. Australian sheep are grown in extensive grazing conditions with little human contact and are therefore much more sensitive to human contact. They respond much better to the handling techniques that are taught in the training program.
An important part of improving the handling of Australian livestock in the Middle East is formally recognising and awarding those that successfully complete the training. Here Peter Dundon awards stockmen at a feedlot in Kuwait that have completed a stock handling course, including a practical examination. Stockmen must competently demonstrate that have learnt and can apply the new techniques that ensure the delivery of low stress handing. Peter Dundon is the Livestock Export Program’s Manager of Livestock Services in the Middle East and Africa region.
Local customers of Australian sheep near the Shuwaikh market in Kuwait provide good discharging ramps to ensure Australian sheep can walk easily from the Australian made specialist livestock semi-trailers that are used to deliver them.
All News