Evidence indicates that transporting animals abroad for slaughter and fattening is both unnecessary and fraught with risk to animal health and welfare.
Data from 2006 to 2009 show that the number of live farm animals exported for further fattening has dropped substantially from 192,383 animals to 77,531. The number of live animals transported overseas for slaughter, however, has risen slightly since 2006 because although far fewer cattle, pigs and goats are now being transported overseas almost 100,000 more sheep were exported in 2009 compared to in 2008, particularly for slaughter purposes.
Although this rise in sheep exports is disappointing, the decline in transport overseas of other species coupled with on-going work of organisations like the Beyond Calf Exports Forum lead the RSPCA to believe that the cessation of the export of live animals for slaughter or further fattening is still feasible within the next few years.
For more information, read the 'live transport' indicator.
