Egypt miraculously fixed??

24/7/2014

Egypt has been given the all-clear to take not only feeder and slaughter cattle but sheep and goats as well, for both breeding and slaughter.

Guess now that Egyptian vet, Mahmoud Abdelwahab is out of the way, live-ex can resume knowing there is not likely to be any whistleblowing. Who would dare speak up knowing they may have to flee their home and risk their family's safety?

So, we try again....until the next atrocities somehow get revealed by someone....which, in Egypt, they undoubtedly will.

6 Comments

PETER GERARD

25/7/2014 01:49:02 pm

This report surely implies that, given government support, the transition to slaughter in Australia with export of beef is a feasible option. Some people in some destination countries prefer to kill their own cattle, especially on feast days, but we should feel no obligation to satisfy this desire, especially as it involves a terrible death for the animals concerned. Preventing such brutality deserves priority over servicing this segment of the industry. We must, on compassionate grounds, put the welfare of the cattle above cultural practices. If we don't it reflects very poorly on the graziers who are prepared to send their cattle to such cruel deaths and equally badly on those in authority.

VALE

29/7/2014 03:00:27 am

The only positive here is that due to the dire economic situation in Egypt, importers probably cannot currently afford to import a goat's tail let alone a goat , sheep or cow. Feed likely to be expensive so the feeder option should be out too. As for breeders....most unlikely.
There has to be some positive to the serious crisis in Egypt at the moment. Not much comfort to the people whose lives are uprooted and endangered (we should really have trade sanctions not be expanding trade to this country) but at least a temporary reprieve for our Australian animals

Peter Gerard

29/7/2014 11:49:10 am

Are the present problems in the live export trade mostly due to the Minister, Barnaby Joyce, or is the rural lobby so powerful it can get its way who ever is in power?
It seems to me that, as the LE trade in sheep and cattle makes up a very small proportion of the overall profits from sheep meat and beef, that a good minister for agriculture would work hard to transition from live to meat exports. It would require delicate diplomacy and some markets might be lost but that would be an acceptable price to pay in the name of alleviating animal suffering.

VALE

31/7/2014 10:23:13 am

Hi Peter, I think the current government is fully supportive of live export thus expansion of a trade that should be contracting has gone ahead at a great rate.
As you say, an intelligent, far-thinking minister would hopefully take a different approach and start looking to transition away from this trade. Our cousins across the ditch managed it just fine and have done well by disassociating themselves from this industry. New Zealand has never been afraid to be leaders in innovative practice or animal welfare.

Peter Gerard

31/7/2014 09:54:59 am

If the present situation in Egypt results in it becoming a stable predominantly secular society, then this could result in a transition to mainly beef imports rather than live cattle. The Muslim Brotherhood are Islamic fundamentalists with connections to Hamas. Egypt has a turbulent history but for the past 100 years or so has been mainly secular with tolerance for relgions of different bents.

VALE

31/7/2014 10:34:11 am

Hi Peter, We are not sure that the former Muslim Brotherhood government should be criticised for their religion.They came to power because of a popular uprising by the Egyptian people who could no longer tolerate their corrupt "secular" government. The current regime, just a reincarnation of the previously deposed government, already has a seriously poor track record for human rights abuses. We have an Australian journalist languishing in gaol due to a trumped-up charge (and court), hundreds of people have been killed outright, others excecuted without fair trial. The one person who may have kept an eye on our Australian animals, an Egyptian vet, and devout Muslim, has had to flee the current regime as a refugee.
One needs to be very careful just assessing a regime by its religion. The previous regime was seemingly far more tolerant than the current regime.
Of course, none of the regimes give a damn about animal welfare!

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Egypt miraculously fixed??

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