Australia exports $120m of animals to different countries which involves terrible consequences to the animals, such as diseases, animal cruelty and the usage of hormones. On the other hand thanks to the management of the livestock exportation Australias economy is larger and more powerful comparing to other countries, this helps with the good relations with different countries and also Australia covers the largest beef industry in the world.
The Australian beef industry is evaluated at approximately 4.3 billion and 2 million tones of beef produced in 2002. Australia exports the 65% of total beef production to over 100 countries. New markets and products are constantly being developed. Despite diversification the markets are more dependent from the Japanese and the US markets, these two economically stable and heavily populated countries account with the 70% of the exportation deliveries.
Livestock is one the major contributions to the Australian economical growth, the economy grew by 3.1% throughout 2002 in Australia. The introduction of the UK to the Australian markets made it more internationally competitive in the EU in 1973 making more export trade links.
Australia reaches international business to achieve trade prices and the exchange of products, this way Australian economy grows even more making it one of the most stable countries. This is obviously a good achievement to Australia, but yet this is not enough to stop the preoccupation on people of how the animals are cruelly treated overseas.
Australia exports live cattle and sheep animals to Egypt and many other middle east countries, where they are killed without prior stunning, their throats are cut while fully conscious, plastic pipes are used to beat the animals making them jump without a ramp from one track to another, the sheep are drag from their horns, face and ears, and the situation is worsening even more when these poor animals die from dehydration, high temperatures and diseases.
Conditions on the sheep ships range from 20c-32c, with humidity from 70-90%, a vet described the weather as wet and sticky, around 47% of the sheep would die due to starvation, and 27% would die due to the infections by Salmonella bacteria. So far the animals are not only physically abused but genetically as well.
The goal of research has been to increase the efficiency of the production of animal products by genetic selection and genetic engineering. For example, scientists have increased the size of sheep by inserting growth-hormone genes into embryos, and the same method can be applied to cattle and other animals. Special additives, including hormones, antibiotics, vitamins, and other substances to increase growth or productivity. The two most controversial growth additives are the hormone diethylstilbestrol (DES) and antibiotics. DES in high doses it was found to be capable of causing cancer. Scientists who supporter the banning of antibiotics argue that resistant strains of bacteria in animals might transfer their resistance to bacteria that infect humans.