Australian livestock producers and exporters remain committed to providing a safe and humane environment for our sheep in the Middle East. That is why we continue to deliver our animal welfare improvement programs across the region.

For 365 days of the year in Middle Eastern markets, Australian sheep are processed through abattoirs. However, during the annual three-day Eid al Adha festival, local people also have the option of transporting sheep home for religious slaughter.

To help increase animal welfare awareness for those that choose to transport sheep to their homes during the three-day Eid al Adha festival, the livestock export industry implements an animal welfare program, dubbed in the ute, not the boot, which – with the help of a team of Australian producers and animal welfare specialists – educates and informs local people on how to appropriately handle and transport sheep.

Australian producers and exporters do not condone the poor practices depicted in the photographs taken by Animals Australia during Eid al Adha in Kuwait. However, these images are not representative of the treatment of the majority of Australian sheep sold in Kuwait during the festival, which continue to be slaughtered in an abattoir with the meat taken home by families.

Industry recognises it is important we work with feedlot and abattoir operators in Kuwait to expand our Eid al Adha animal welfare programs to improve practices and further increase the number of sheep that are processed in abattoirs.  

Each country in the Middle East is different and the Australian livestock export industry works with each country to develop and implement individual programs to improve the welfare of Australian sheep. For example, in Qatar we have implemented a program where the abattoir is located next to the feedlot and many livestock are processed through this facility during Eid al Adha.

Australia’s livestock export industry, through producer and exporter levies, runs training and education programs and builds and upgrades infrastructure in all Middle Eastern markets. Our team of animal welfare specialists is working in the marketplace every day of the year.

Through the Live Trade Animal Welfare Partnership (LTAWP) with the Australian Government over $850,000 was invested in animal welfare improvements in 2009-10, and over $2 million will be invested over the next two years. This is in addition to industry’s annual investment in animal welfare of over $1.75 million.

Eid al Adha is one of the largest annual Islamic celebrations and the sacrifice of animals is an integral part of it. One third of the meat from these animals is eaten by immediate family and relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to the poor.

Photographs from Eid al Adha 2010:

Mawashi Livestock Company, Qatar

For further information or interviews please contact:

Yvette Farrell, communication manager, 0406 037 937

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