A groundbreaking study has shed light on the significant number of cattle and sheep that die at New South Wales saleyards, attributing losses to transport stress and on-site conditions. Researchers analyzed data from the National Livestock Identification System, finding average sale day mortality rates of 0.016% for cattle and 0.096% for sheep.
The study highlights that factors such as high temperatures, saleyard size, location, and colder minimum temperatures contribute to these deaths. It calls for uniform enforcement of animal welfare standards across Australia and improved training in low-stress handling techniques for all industry participants. Beyond welfare, these losses represent substantial economic costs and can damage public trust in the livestock sector.
