Live sheep ban in Australia, through a different lens

THE hairy-chested agri-politicians who are pushing back so vigorously against the Australian live sheep export ban are not serving their constituents well. Ban or no ban, the live sheep export trade to the Middle East is in terminal decline – not because of animal welfare, but for purely commercial reasons. The recent uptick in exports to Saudi Arabia, with sheep sold to the trade at historically low prices, is a minor blip in an otherwise steady decline. The fundamental drivers of the trade have changed. The Arabian Gulf States are affluent countries with consumer demands shifting from the traditional fresh meat markets of last century to Western style food supply chains. The sources of live sheep supply have also shifted. Sudan and Somalia are key suppliers of live sheep to the Arabian Gulf States. They have major competitive advantages over Australia – local fat-tail sheep breeds, close cultural ties, proximity to market, lower transport costs, ability to supply regular small ...