Economic drivers of livestock transportation

Comparison of world livestock export standards Page 7 of 58 1 Understanding livestock transportation

1.1 Economic drivers of livestock transportation

Proponents of freer trade are often heard to say ‘trade is better than aid’. By this they mean that the economies of third world countries will benefit more from being allowed to exchange goods and services across borders than they will if given handouts by richer nations. World forums continue to emphasise the importance of trade between diverse nations and it appears the political will to expedite the associated processes is gathering pace. However, there is a vast gulf between the high ideals of freer world trade and the practical realities of exchange between any two countries. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the case of livestock trading among nations. Many of the world’s poorest nations are heavily dependent on livestock for subsistence and generation of foreign exchange. Short of developing a meat-processing sector, it must be presumed that these countries will only expand their participation in trade through livestock exporting. To the extent that animal welfare is related to affluence, the welfare of animals in third world countries will be assisted most by putting in place measures such as conditions of trade that lift the living standards of people in these countries. Elsewhere, education programs will lift welfare standards. Despite livestock exporting being challenged on many fronts, it will be assisted by upward harmonisation of the outcomes applying to animal health and welfare. In Figure 1, welfare is shown as sub-set of animal health. Country’s Standards Figure 1: Linkages between freer trade, livestock movements and protocols Trade Among Nations Livestock movements across national borders Animal Health Animal Welfare Creation of Wealth and Improvement in Living Standards Superior animal welfare outcomes Comparison of world livestock export standards Page 8 of 58 Australia is a ‘first world’ country and the largest livestock-exporting nation 1 . But many of the countries exporting and importing livestock are third world countries with vastly differing attitudes toward animal welfare and with differing capacities to implement systems that might safeguard animal health and welfare during transportation. However, transportation distances are often relatively minor and may require only hours or a few days to complete – rather than weeks. While it is not presumed that all countries need or want the same set of standards for exporting livestock, it will be in the interests all nations participating in livestock transportation to work toward implementation of standards designed to deliver acceptable animal health and welfare outcomes. This review will assist the quest for more effective standards worldwide by identifying and comparing livestock exporting standards between nations.

1.2 The special challenges that confront livestock exporting