Animal cruelty. It is a terrible thing. Terrible to see on
our TV’s in recent footage, but it must be absolutely horrific to see in
person. I am at a complete loss to understand how people can film these things
and not intervene at any point (especially when they are not there as
individuals). How can they not attempt to stop it? I have never seen any of the
following said in activists’ footage:
“Hey is that necessary?”
“Hey please stop what you are doing”
“Stop now please. There is a much better way of doing this”
“Who is in charge here? I want them to stop this
immediately!”
I have as yet to see a story air where people film cruelty
with someone actively intervening to stop it or question why or attempt to do
something……anything to prevent more occurring. If there were footage of it I
would perhaps believe their sincerity, but there is not. Just as there is no
footage proffered of how things look when they are done correctly.
I do not condone cruelty. Nor do I condone a campaign that
is seeking to discredit an industry, our trading partners and our farmers off
the back of animal cruelty. I ask the following questions:
How many abattoirs did they visit before they found their
footage?
How long where they aware of the possibility of cruelty
occurring?
Did they seek to inform authorities at the onset?
How long have they had the footage?
How many more incidents are they going to release over the
coming months?
Why are those slaughtering the animals not concerned about
the presence of a film crew?
Surely they (the slaughtermen) know what they are doing is
wrong?
Perhaps there are other motives for the willingness for them
to openly stand in front of a camera and proceed to do what they do?
How do they plan the release of the footage?
Anything to do with the upcoming election perchance?
Why wait so long to report it to the authorities?
I have so many questions. These people are not journalists
telling a balanced story (even though the odd journalist is known to only show
one side). These people have gone on an “investigation” with the sole purpose
of uncovering cruelty. Commendable when done correctly. However planning, possibly orchestrating and
ultimately benefiting from the footage is anything but commendable.
I feel ill. Ill about the fact that animals have suffered.
Ill about the fact that nothing was done there and then to stop it. Ill that it
was not immediately reported to authorities. Ill that the blame is being laid
at the feet of our farmers. Ill that as an exporting nation we stand to lose
not only our Live Export markets, but all our commodity markets.
Sixty-six percent of all agricultural produce grown here is
exported. This includes meat but also grains, wine, dairy, wool, and cotton. Basically
anything our farmers grow is also exported. These countries are being labelled
cruel as a whole. Not the individuals responsible, but the countries as a
whole. I imagine some find this offensive. If offended they can easily chose
not to buy our Australian produce. “Good!” I hear the Ban Live Export movement exclaim.
How about when they no longer buy our wheat, or cotton or wool? We stand to
lose so very much more.
This is a short sighted political campaign aimed to inflict
maximum damage to the Live Export industry while at the same time receive huge
benefits in the way of publicity and donations. At no time have they looked
further ahead down the road to see the ongoing implications of their actions. The
offence they are causing with their blanket statements about our trading
partners.
The ban as a response to the Indonesian footage shown by the
ABC’s 4Corners was short sighted and irresponsible. Indonesia was offended.
They are also our third largest wheat importer. The ramifications two years
late are still being felt as the drought spreads its fingers over properties
that are overstocked. Overstocked because the cattle are worth nothing.
The recent cattle sales of $20/head would not even cover
freight. The selling levy alone is $5/head. There is no agistment available,
fodder is scarce and getting not only scarcer but unaffordable. Some producers
are almost two years without an income. Where do they find the money to feed
their cattle? The values of their properties has been reduced by the banks who
are rerating the risk score of farmers.
There is little to no money left.
Now the prospect of cattle being shot in the paddock is a
very real possibility. While people elsewhere in the world starve, some of our
farmers are facing the very real prospect of shooting the livestock in the
paddock. Yet statements like this are rife on social media………….."When I hear "farmers have to shoot them cause the market is shut down"I sigh in relief, at least they will be spared" or even “So what you breed them to
kill and eat anyway?”.
It is interesting that some do not understand the effort
and love (yes love) that goes into building a herd of breeding cattle. They do
not see the time, effort or money spent on genetics, building a herd of
beautiful cows. They do not see the farmers ensuring the health and well-being
of their livestock. They do not see the fact that the farmer can identify the
majority of his breeders by sight (sometimes even name), know who owns what
calf and which bull was the sire. They so not see the pride the farmer has in his stock.
There is so much that goes into breeding
cattle. To have to destroy years and years of work and genetics by having to
shoot what would otherwise be perfectly animals if there were not a drought is
simply heartbreaking. “But you shoot your own to eat”. Yes that is correct and
I personally while not liking the fact that an animal must die chose to be a
realist as I eat meat. I also see that there is no waste. It is a form of
self-sufficiency. It is also a single animal not hundreds or thousands that
will have to be shot and go to waste. So very, very needless and unnecessary
and heartbreaking.
There is no abattoir crying out for them to kill, despite
this being the favoured catch cry of the activist…….on shore processing. If
this were a genuine option there would be a huge percentage of farmers
supporting this option. Jobs for Australians, preferably in Australian owned
businesses. The reality however is far different. There are not people clamouring
to be employed in abattoirs. The majority of Abattoirs are not Australian
owned. It costs approximately $300/ body of beef to slaughter in Australia. It
costs only $150/ body in the US and only around $80/body in Brazil. Simple
equation really, our boxed meat is expensive.
I do not condone cruelty. I do not ask you to actually
support the Live Export industry. I do ask you to show some empathy for our
farmers. When they explain their individual situations it is not whinging, but
simply telling their story and situation.
I do also ask you as intelligent Australians to question the
underlying motives of organisations like Animals Australia and their activists.
The way the footage is being released in dribs and drabs in the lead up to an
election screams political agenda and has little to do with animal welfare,
otherwise the authorities would have been informed immediately. Point scoring
off the back of cruelty.
If Australia is not active in these markets then one of the
other 109 or so countries who also Live Export will happily fill the gap, and
not a single one spends any money on animal welfare in other countries.
Australia is the only country attempting to help improve infrastructure and
offering training and education for employees.
Remember not a single dollar they receive in donations will
actually go towards animal welfare, instead a large part of their budget goes
in advertising against not only Live Export but all methods of meat production.
What you are seeing and hearing may be appalling, but
remember no one lifted a finger to help these animals and now there is much being
gained through the cruelty for activists. They have even recently launched
political candidates into the federal election under the banner of the Animal
Justice Party.
Cruelty is wrong, be it to animal or human. It needs to be
stopped and the most effective way is through training and education. Humans
are an imperfect race, with people capable of terrible things and at the same
time great kindness. Please take the time to consider all sides and seek out
answers. The simplistic solutions offered by opponents to the Live Export
industry are too simple. There is so much more at stake.
