Indonesia’s LSD ban still hurting Territory live cattle exports

Thousands of Territory cattle are still at the mercy of a puzzling ruling that is causing drama in the industry. SPECIAL REPORT

More than a fortnight after it was lifted, Territory pastoralists continue to be hurt by Indonesia’s suspension of live cattle exports from four northern Australia cattle stations.

New, unilateral moves put in place by Indonesia mean thousands of northern Australian cattle will be excluded from export if they carry skin lesions, marks or pre-existing scars.

Exporters describe the move as being in a “grey area” because the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock guidelines have not been changed.

NT Cattlemen’s Association chief executive Will Evans said the definition of ”a legion” was open-ended and up for interpretation.

He said ultimately it would be north Australian cattle producers and exporters who felt the pinch.

The NT’s live cattle trade continues to be hurt by Indonesia’s live bans.

He said as many as 30 per cent of cattle in some areas could already have pre-existing scars and the risk of bites and marks grew during the Wet Season.

“They don’t have lumpy skin disease, they might just have historical marks,” Mr Evans said. “They’re otherwise healthy cattle, they just have marks. The adverse impacts on producers will be something Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association will be working towards with the federal and Indonesian governments to find a resolution.”

He said cattle destined for Indonesia was unsuitable for sale in other South-East Asian markets including Vietnam and Malaysia.

Ashley James from the North Australian Cattle Company said the lack of clear criteria surrounding what animals were impacted by the bans was proving challenging.

North Australian Cattle Company general manager Ashley James.

He said potentially 40 per cent of some herds would be excluded for export under the new criteria which would not have happened six months ago.

“The grey area is still an unknown,” Mr James said.

“It’s difficult to know what is classified as valid scarring and this made it difficult at the stations where we had to turn out 30-40 per cent of cattle which six months ago wouldn’t have been a problem to get on the boat.

“A skin lesion is a grey area because it can be a cut, a ringworm, anything raised on the skin is a questionable grey area. Is it getting better, worse or not changing? Thousands of cattle are out of spec and we only loaded 1200 cattle and rejected about 500 to get to 1200 so it’s significant.”

Indonesia announced in July it was suspending cattle from four northern Australia cattle stations, including two in the NT.

Malaysia later announced a suspension of all Australian cattle exports, but this was rescinded three weeks later.

Indonesia announced earlier this month it had lifted the ban with conditions, with a delegation of Indonesian department of agriculture officials is expected to visit the Territory within weeks.