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Live exports: Australia sends first shipment of buffalo to Vietnam Live exports: Australia sends first shipment of buffalo to Vietnam
(7 months later)
Australia’s live animal export industry has taken a new turn, with the first-ever shipment of buffalo heading to Vietnam from the Northern Territory.Australia’s live animal export industry has taken a new turn, with the first-ever shipment of buffalo heading to Vietnam from the Northern Territory.
Vietnam is the second largest importer of NT cattle after Indonesia, but it has never before been an export destination for buffalo, which is relatively popular meat across south-east Asia.Vietnam is the second largest importer of NT cattle after Indonesia, but it has never before been an export destination for buffalo, which is relatively popular meat across south-east Asia.
A growing middle class and an appetite for high-quality meat is driving demand, which will continue to rise, chief minister Adam Giles said.A growing middle class and an appetite for high-quality meat is driving demand, which will continue to rise, chief minister Adam Giles said.
He said the livestock industry was a key part of the government’s plan to develop the NT into the “food bowl of Asia”.He said the livestock industry was a key part of the government’s plan to develop the NT into the “food bowl of Asia”.
The NT is currently the only Australian jurisdiction exporting buffalo, said the minister for primary industries, Willem Westra Van Holthe. The NT is currently the only Australian jurisdiction exporting buffalo, said the minister for primary industries, Willem Westra Van Holthe.
“That makes us a leader in this field and we work very hard building relationships with our northern neighbours to make this kind of trade possible,” he told reporters in Darwin on Tuesday.“That makes us a leader in this field and we work very hard building relationships with our northern neighbours to make this kind of trade possible,” he told reporters in Darwin on Tuesday.
The government said it would also develop opportunities for Indigenous communities to harvest wild buffalo from herds on Aboriginal land.The government said it would also develop opportunities for Indigenous communities to harvest wild buffalo from herds on Aboriginal land.
An original shipment of 222 domesticated buffalo will be joined by another 600 next week and 1500 more in April when the wet season eases.An original shipment of 222 domesticated buffalo will be joined by another 600 next week and 1500 more in April when the wet season eases.
Australian officials will travel to Vietnam in a fortnight to ensure that animal welfare conditions are being met.Australian officials will travel to Vietnam in a fortnight to ensure that animal welfare conditions are being met.
It took three years for a health protocol to be developed to allow the export of the buffalo, an effort in part hampered by the Indonesian live cattle export scandal in 2011.It took three years for a health protocol to be developed to allow the export of the buffalo, an effort in part hampered by the Indonesian live cattle export scandal in 2011.
But conditions on the boat would not be arduous for the buffalo, said Dean Ryan, commercial manager for South-East Asia Livestock Services.But conditions on the boat would not be arduous for the buffalo, said Dean Ryan, commercial manager for South-East Asia Livestock Services.
“They’re hardy animals; they live in swamps and are used to hard terrain in the bush,” he said.“They’re hardy animals; they live in swamps and are used to hard terrain in the bush,” he said.
“Being on a boat, getting fed [and] watered 24/7, with ventilation better than a commercial aircraft, they probably think it’s a cruise liner.”“Being on a boat, getting fed [and] watered 24/7, with ventilation better than a commercial aircraft, they probably think it’s a cruise liner.”
He said farmers were thrilled by the demand.He said farmers were thrilled by the demand.
“They couldn’t give them away 12 months ago; they were probably worth 60 to 80 cents a kilo as pet feed,” he said.“They couldn’t give them away 12 months ago; they were probably worth 60 to 80 cents a kilo as pet feed,” he said.
“Today the farmers are getting $1.50 per kilogram, which is between $600 to $800 per head. They’d be very, very happy.”“Today the farmers are getting $1.50 per kilogram, which is between $600 to $800 per head. They’d be very, very happy.”
Ryan said the export to Vietnam could be worth up to $20m this year with possibly 10,000 to 20,000 animals to be shipped.Ryan said the export to Vietnam could be worth up to $20m this year with possibly 10,000 to 20,000 animals to be shipped.