New Zealand: Plans are under way for more live cattle shipments to China before the ban takes effect

Three more shipments of live cattle are expected to depart New Zealand for China before a ban on the trade comes into force at the end of April. When the Government announced the ban on livestock exports by sea in 2021 it granted the sector a two-year transition period, allowing exports to continue under tightened rules which were introduced after the sinking of the Gulf Livestock 1. Nearly 6000 cattle and 43 crew, including two New Zealanders, were on board the Gulf Livestock 1 when it capsized in the East China Sea in 2020. Figures from the Ministry for Primary Industries show in 2022 134,590 live cattle were shipped to China, where they are being used for breeding purposes. That compared to 134,722 cattle in 2021 and 109,921 cattle in 2020, but numbers were much lower in 2019, when just under 40,000 cattle were exported to the country. MPI said so far in 2023 two livestock shipments, comprising 11,574 cattle in total, had departed New Zealand. A further three shipments were in ...