Cattle mortalities hit Indonesia-bound live export vessel

Cattle exported from Australia to Indonesia have died, according to a statement from the federal Department of Agriculture.

Reports are circulating that there may have been upwards of 100 mortalities on the ship.

A ship sending cattle from Australia to Indonesia has reported a “significant” number of cattle deaths to the federal Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry.

The department was notified of the mortalities on the commercial live export vessel, the Brahman Express, and publicly released the information today.

While the department statement has not detailed the number of deaths, reports are circulating that there may have been upwards of 100 mortalities on the ship.

“Prior to departure, the department undertook pre-export inspections to ensure that the livestock met requirements under the Export Control Act 2020 and importing-country requirements,” a statement from the department said.

“There is no suggestion that exotic animal disease is involved. We are investigating the incident as per normal procedures and as a matter of priority.”

The department statement noted that Australia remains free of exotic animal diseases such as Lumpy Skin Disease and Foot and Mouth Disease.

The Australian Livestock Exporters Council released a statement saying the initial assumptions were that the cause of death was botulism, with the affected animals coming from a single property.

ALEC said efforts were underway to treat remaining animals that may be affected.

ALEC’s statement said the issue was self-reported by the exporter, which is assisting DAFF with further investigation.

“The exporter has conducted itself correctly through the process and will work closely with DAFF to determine the cause of the deaths,” ALEC’s statement read.

According to the council, Indonesia is Australia’s most important trading partner for live cattle.

According to the NSW Department of Agriculture, botulism is a paralysing disease of animals, birds and humans caused by a potent nerve toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum.

The bacteria and its spores are widely distributed in the environment, according to the NSW department.

“Much of the pastoral areas of Australia have phosphorus deficient soils (and) in these areas botulism occurs quite commonly as cattle chew bones and carrion containing botulism toxin to satisfy their craving for phosphorus and/or protein,” a departmental factsheet on the condition states.

“Due to the remote locations the affected animals may die unnoticed and only show up as reduced numbers at musters.

“The diagnosis of botulism is difficult early in an outbreak when losses are not great.”

According to the department, detection is difficult and there is “no specific treatment for animals affected by botulism only supportive treatment”.