Accumulation of ammonia and other potentially noxious gases on live export shipments from Australia to the Middle East

M. K. Pines; C. J. C. Phillips

doi:10.1039/c1em10425j

Electrolyte supplementation of live export cattle to the Middle East

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea06041 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

pp. 119 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

D. T. Beatty ◽

A. Barnes ◽

R. Taplin ◽

M. McCarthy ◽

S. K. Maloney

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Western Australia ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Stocking Density ◽

High Heat ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Acid Base Balance ◽

Night Time ◽

Urine Ph ◽

Live Export

Eighty Bos taurus crossbred steers sourced from southern Western Australia were monitored to assess the efficacy of electrolyte supplementation on board a livestock vessel travelling to the Middle East during the northern hemisphere summer. Electrolytes (1.8 g/L NaHCO3 and 3.5 g/L KCl) were added to the drinking water of treatment steers (n = 39) allocated to three pens on the starboard side of the ship. Control steers (n = 40) were allocated to three pens on the port side of the ship. The combined area of the three treatment and three control pens was 61.1 and 63.6 m2 respectively, giving a stocking density of 1.57 and 1.55 m2 per steer, respectively. Steers were loaded in Fremantle, Western Australia and given 3 days to acclimatise to on-board conditions before being weighed (day 1), after which electrolyte supplementation began while the vessel docked at Port Headland, Western Australia. Feed and water were available ad libitum throughout the experiment. Steers were weighed again on day 18, before discharge in the Middle East. During electrolyte supplementation, wet bulb temperature ranged from 21.3 (day 2) to 31.8°C (day 18). Over the last 3 days of the experiment, wet bulb temperature ranged from 29.0 to 31.8°C with no diurnal variation or night-time cooling. No open-mouth panting was recorded in either group and although animals encountered periods of high heat and humidity (as indicated by increased respiratory rates), the steers were not considered clinically heat stressed during the experiment. After 18 days of electrolyte supplementation, treatment steers had a 2.9 ± 1.7% liveweight advantage compared with control steers (P < 0.001). Urine was collected on days 8 and 16 of the experiment and treatment steers maintained a higher urine pH compared with control steers on both days (day 8; 8.6 v. 8.2 and day 16; 8.2 v. 7.9; P < 0.01). Liveweight advantages and improved regulation of acid–base balance may provide welfare and economic benefits to the live export industry.

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The influence of heat load on Merino sheep. 1. Growth, performance, behaviour and climate

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an19687 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 60 (16) ◽

pp. 1925

Author(s):

A. M. Lees ◽

M. L. Sullivan ◽

J. C. W. Olm ◽

A. J. Cawdell-Smith ◽

J. B. Gaughan

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Growth Performance ◽

Water Intake ◽

Feed Intake ◽

Heat Load ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Temperature Humidity Index ◽

Humidity Index ◽

Dressing Percentage ◽

Live Export

Context Annually, millions of sheep are exported from Australia to the Middle East, typically during the southern hemisphere winter to the northern hemisphere summer. During these voyages, sheep can be exposed to relatively rapid changes in ambient conditions within a short period of time (≤29 days); therefore, excessive heat load concerns can arise. Aims The aim of this study was to define the responses of sheep to incremental heat load under simulated live export conditions. The study herein describes (1) the heat load imposed, and (2) the effect of this heat load on the growth, performance and behavioural responses of sheep during periods of incremental heat load. Methods A total of 144 Merino wethers (44.02 ± 0.32 kg) were included in a 29-day climate controlled study using two cohorts of 72 sheep (n = 2), exposed to two treatments: (1) thermoneutral and (2) hot (HOT). Ambient temperature (°C) and relative humidity (%) for the HOT treatment were modelled from live export voyages from Australia to the Middle East in July. Climatic conditions within the climate control chambers were recorded at 10-min intervals, then used to calculate a temperature humidity index. Sheep posture, rumination, eating, drinking and demeanour (calm, agitated or depressed) were observed four times daily at 3-h intervals between 0800 hours and 1700 hours. Feed intake was recorded daily and water intake was measured using an automated meter. Sheep were weighed on Day 0 and then at 7-day intervals. Sheep were weighed at slaughter and carcass weights were obtained, these data were used to determine carcass dressing percentage. Data were analysed using a repeated measures model, with a compound symmetry covariance structure. Key results Climatic conditions in the HOT treatment increased incrementally between Day 1 (temperature humidity index ≥19) and Day 29 (temperature humidity index ≤34.7). Behaviour, feed intake, average daily gain (g/day), carcass weight (kg) and dressing percentage were not influenced by treatment (P > 0.05). Sheep in the HOT treatment group showed a 137% increase in water intake (P < 0.01) and on average consumed 2.15 L/sheep.day, whereas the thermoneutral group consumed 1.67 L/sheep.day. Conclusions These results suggest that these sheep were capable of maintaining feed intake and growth despite exposure to heat load, albeit with a 137% increase in water intake. Implications These results highlight the resilience of the Australian Merino genotype, as these sheep were capable of maintaining feed intake and growth during exposure to heat load. As the climatic conditions in this study were modelled based on typical live export vessel conditions, these results may suggest that the climatic conditions experienced by sheep during voyages may not be as critical as previously thought.

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The influence of heat load on Merino sheep. 3. Cytokine and biochemistry profiles

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an19689 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 60 (16) ◽

pp. 1940

Author(s):

A. M. Lees ◽

G. Wijffels ◽

R. McCulloch ◽

S. Stockwell ◽

H. Owen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Middle East ◽

Southern Hemisphere ◽

Northern Hemisphere ◽

Heat Load ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Inflammatory Status ◽

Biochemical Profiles ◽

Hemisphere Winter ◽

Live Export

Context Approximately 2 million sheep are exported from Australia on live export voyages annually. As voyages travel from a southern hemisphere winter to a northern hemisphere summer, production and welfare issues associated with excessive heat load may arise. Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate the responses of sheep to incremental heat load under simulated live export conditions, specifically the influence of heat load on the metabolic and inflammatory status of sheep. Methods A total of 144 Merino wethers (44.02 ± 0.32 kg) were used in a 29-day climate controlled study using two cohorts of 72 sheep (n = 2), exposed to two treatments: (1) thermoneutral, and (2) hot. Sheep in the hot treatment were exposed to heat load simulated from live export voyages from Australia to the Middle East. Blood samples were collected from all sheep (n = 144) on Day 1, then at 7-day intervals (n = 5) for the duration of each 29-day period. Blood samples were analysed to determine the cytokine, biochemistry and haematology (data not presented here) profiles. Cytokine and biochemical profiles were analysed using a repeated measures model assuming a compound symmetry covariance. The model fitted included terms for cohort and treatment (hot, thermoneutral), and a term for sample collection day (day) and a treatment × day interaction. The subject factor corresponded to the cohort × treatment combinations. Key results There were no consistent trends in plasma cytokine and biochemical profiles. Bicarbonate was the only parameter that was influenced by cohort (P = 0.0035), treatment (P = 0.0025), collection (P = 0.0001) and treatment × collection (P = 0.0025). Furthermore, interleukin-6 and glutamate dehydrogenase were the only parameters that were not influenced by cohort (P > 0.295), treatment (P = 0.2567), collection (P > 0.06) or treatment × collection (P = 0.34). Conclusions Overall, these data highlight that the metabolic and inflammatory status of sheep exposed to incremental heat load, during a simulated live export voyage from a southern hemisphere winter to a northern hemisphere summer, were not markedly altered. Implications These results provide a preliminary evaluation of the inflammatory and metabolic status of sheep on arrival in the Middle East.

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The Effects of Heat Stress on Sheep Welfare during Live Export Voyages from Australia to the Middle East

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10040694 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 694

Author(s):

Francesca Carnovale ◽

Clive J. C. Phillips

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Middle East ◽

Southern Hemisphere ◽

Elevated Temperatures ◽

Middle Eastern ◽

Summer Temperature ◽

Mortality Data ◽

Sea Transport ◽

Hemisphere Winter ◽

Live Export

One of the world’s longest sea transport routes of live sheep for slaughter is from Australia to the Middle East. Heat stress is a major cause of mortality in shipments of sheep, particularly in sheep leaving Australia in the Southern Hemisphere winter to arrive in the Middle Eastern summer. Temperature and mortality data were utilized and recorded from fourteen voyages from Australia to the Middle East in May to December, 2016–2018, with the aim of determining when the welfare of the sheep began to be affected by elevated temperatures. Increases in heat stress were recorded at temperatures normally experienced in 50% of voyages between July and September offloading sheep at two of the four Persian Gulf ports, Doha and Dubai; however, small increases in recorded heat stress were not sufficient to increase mortality. Temperatures increased most rapidly when sheep were offloaded initially at Doha first, followed by other Gulf ports, and this resulted in higher mortality than when sheep were offloaded at other ports first. These results confirm benefits of restricting voyages leaving Australia in the Southern Hemisphere winter and suggest that shipments offloading at multiple ports should not offload at the hottest port, Doha, first.

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