Investigation Exposes Potential Welfare Issues in Irish Cattle Exports by Sea

Ethical Farming Ireland and the NGO Israel Against Live Shipments conducted a joint investigation into livestock exports by sea, focusing on a recent shipment by Vroon's Ganado Express. The ship carried 3,304 small weanlings and young cattle from Greenore port to Haifa on a 10-day voyage. Upon arrival, several health issues were documented in the cattle, including high levels of respiratory illness, diarrhea, and ringworm - a zoonotic disease. Concerns were raised about the conditions onboard, such as poor ventilation, high humidity, and unsanitary pens.

The Veterinary Health Certificate for exports between Ireland and Israel requires government vet inspections to ensure no signs of infectious or contagious diseases in animals prior to boarding. Ethical Farming Ireland alerted Portuguese authorities about the risk of ringworm spreading further as the ship was heading there after Israel.

In Haifa, the bulls were transported in trucks not compliant with EU legislation regarding animal transport, lacking straw or sawdust and with issues in the design and construction. Under the Court of Justice Zuchtvieh ruling, EC Regulation 1/2005 on animal protection during transport applies until the final destination is reached. Concerns were raised that the Ganado Express may not have adequate ventilation and the crew may lack training in animal husbandry.

In a separate incident, the livestock carrier Al Kuwait, owned by Livestock Transport and Trading from Kuwait, docked in Cape Town harbour with 19,000 live cattle from Brazil to Iraq, caused a stench over the city. The National Council of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NCSPCA) sent a veterinary consultant onboard to assess animal welfare, noting the stench onboard indicative of poor conditions endured by the animals, including a build-up of feces and ammonia.