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Producers get tour of live export vessel

Michael TraillNarrogin Observer
The Sheep Collective’s Dr Holly Ludeman, Lucille Hobbs and Dannielle Keatley during the inspection last Wednesday.
Camera IconThe Sheep Collective’s Dr Holly Ludeman, Lucille Hobbs and Dannielle Keatley during the inspection last Wednesday.

Producers and stock agents were invited onto a live sheep export vessel at Fremantle port last week to see for themselves the reality of the trade.

The Sheep Collective, a social media movement promoting the industry, was given permission by RETWA and KLTT to invite members of the live export supply line aboard their vessel.

For many who stepped on board the ship it was their first, up-close experience of the environment sheep are exposed to while being exported to foreign markets.

Ventilation and feeding systems were inspected by producers and industry members as well as the loading and peening process stock go through once arriving at port.

One industry member invited to Fremantle Port last Wednesday was Brookton’s Dannielle Keatley.

Mrs Keatley said she did not know what to expect before boarding the ship.

“I had a very vague idea about what it’s all about,” she said.

Mrs Keatley said she was encouraged by the processing times, animal inspection methods, the ventilation system and staffing levels on each deck supporting stock welfare.

“They (the sheep on the vessel) were happy. They were content,” she said.

“I’ve lived on numerous farms with my family — it didn’t seem any different, they were content as could be.”

Mrs Keatley said she was impressed by the way the Sheep Collective had shown the wider public “exactly what goes on” in the live export trade, after footage from the Awassi Express emerged in April last,” she said

“I couldn’t believe what the Sheep Collective had done as a small group people and what they’ve shown us so far.

”They gave me a lot of confidence.”

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