As discussed in WA Today, VALE is very concerned that the Bader was allowed to load in Fremantle on the weekend. Whilst loading the ship was delayed until evening on Sat 11th, the sheep were trucked from a feedlot 3h away (ie they were still exposed to extreme temperature during loading and transport to port). On Sun 12th, trucks left Kojunup for Fremantle in 44 degree heat even though temperatures had improved at the Port (well to the high 30s!). The extra cost of waiting 36-48 hours was clearly more important than sheep welfare!
That any stock should be handled and transported in this extreme heat is concerning. However, if the sheep were staying on land in Australia, they would have a chance to recover. To load these almost certainly heat-affected sheep onto a ship (with no chance of cooling on the upper decks until the ambient temperature cooled) , with high stocking density (0.308 metres squared for 47kg sheep) for a three week sea voyage should not be permitted. This additional stress before a voyage commences is unacceptable. How was this sanctioned by DAFF and DAFWA? And were the RSPCA present?
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