New Zealand exports live animals for slaughter overseas.

New Zealand has not exported live animals for slaughter since 2008. The live export process we refer to is for breeding, not slaughter.

The export journey by sea is harmful and damaging for the animals.

Livestock travel well on the vessels, adapting to their new environment within the first day or so and settling into a consistent routine.

Each ship is staffed with highly experienced stock handlers and veterinarians who ensure the well-being and comfort of animals throughout their journey.

Cattle are fed four times daily, have access to fresh water, and stay in custom vessels with ventilation systems. They are kept in social groups with enough space to lie down and rest, promoting their natural behaviour.

There are high animal mortality rates on board vessels.

Mortality rates for cattle on export vessels live export compare favourably with other losses of farmed cattle.

A study conducted by Mason et al. in 2020 found that the mortality rate between weaning and 27 months of age on spring-calving New Zealand dairy herds was 2.7% across one year. In comparison, in 2022 MPI reported that New Zealand cattle exports (at minimum 15 months old) averaged only 0.05% mortality.

Animals are poorly treated on arrival and sent to farms without welfare standards

Importing countries make large investments in farming infrastructure, human resources and livestock to support their aspirations of providing their people with homegrown nutrition.

While most countries do not have the same animal welfare legislation as New Zealand, evidence has shown that our animals living in destination countries are treated with the same standards of welfare, respect and good husbandry required in any high-performing farming operation.

We’re committed to working with MPI to develop a regulatory framework that would ensure the welfare of our exported animals in their new home. This includes introducing a comprehensive two-way training, support and information exchange program with buyers. Farms that buy New Zealand animals should be inspected and shown to meet or exceed requirements for environment, nutrition, veterinary care, transport and humane end-of-life policies.

New Zealand is exporting our best genetics, which means we are left with sub-par cattle, so we should only send semen and embryos.

New Zealand farmers export their surplus stock after having first selected the very best as annual replacements into their herds thereby ensuring that Kiwis benefit from the very best animals.

In order to benefit from importing semen and embryos, countries require sufficient numbers of animals to act as recipients for artificial breeding programmes. This isn’t always the case for importing countries who rely on our cattle to support local food production.

New Zealand currently exports some embryos, providing an additional avenue for genetic exchange alongside live exports.

We are ruining our export markets by exporting breeding stock.

Importing breeding stock is often crucial for developing countries to enhance their livestock farming sector. This mutually beneficial practice provides economic opportunities for both New Zealand and importing countries.

For instance in China, where dairy and beef consumption is projected to surpass any rise in domestic production, the import of breeding stock is essential. In 2022, with a total cattle inventory of 98 million, China imported 153,000 beef and dairy cattle from New Zealand.

Live export is only a small part of the New Zealand economy.

The livestock export plays a vital role in New Zealand’s economy, contributing significantly to revenue, job creation, and innovation in the agricultural sector. This industry, spanning from truck drivers to lab technicians, provides jobs and income to people and businesses across the country.

Live exports by sea made up about 0.2 percent of New Zealand’s primary sector exports revenue since 2015, with a value of $382 million in the fiscal year 2021/22.

By assisting the development of new farming overseas, New Zealand is building goodwill that will enhance our trading relationships and help the importing countries to meet their food security requirements.