Live sheep and cattle export reports
Reports on sheep and cattle exported from New Zealand by sea.
Voyage reports required
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) requires that a voyage report is completed for all shipments of livestock by sea that require an Animal Welfare Export Certificate (AWEC).
Reports should be submitted by the exporter to MPI within 20 working days of the vessel arriving at the destination.
MPI assesses past voyage reports when considering any future applications for an AWEC.
Voyage report guidance and template
The MPI Guidance Material for the Transport of Cattle by Sea details the 20 working days timeframe and the format for voyage reports. Section 17 of the guide has more information about the reports. Appendix 7 includes a voyage report template exporters can use.
Voyage report summary – live sheep export
Only one large consignment (greater than 20 animals) of sheep by sea has been exported since 2008. It was a shipment of 45,112 sheep to Mexico, which departed Timaru on 11 June 2015 on the vessel Nada.
The voyage took 15 days and mortality rate in the sheep was 0.42% with 191 sheep deaths.
Voyage report summaries – live cattle exports
Summaries of consignments (greater than 20 animals) of cattle exported by sea since 2015 show the mortality rates for each voyage. The summaries also include the port of export, vessel name, and the voyage length. Where significant mortalities have occurred, a short explanation of the reason is given. These shipments have resulted in MPI requesting further information from the exporter and a re-evaluation of systems that caused the deaths.
| Date of Export | Port of Export | Vessel | Number of Cattle | Number of Mortalities | Percentage Mortality | Voyage Length | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 January |
Napier |
Yangtze Fortune |
3,995 |
0 |
0.00% |
21 days |
China |
|
22 January |
Napier |
Ocean Ute |
4,407 |
1 |
0.02% |
18 days |
China |
| TOTAL | 8,402 | 1 | 0.01% |
| Date of Export | Port of Export | Vessel | Number of Cattle | Number of Mortalities | Percentage Mortality | Voyage Length | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 February | New Plymouth | Yangtze Fortune | 3,732 | 2 | 0.05% | 19 days | China |
| 5 February | Timaru | Gelbray Express | 3,520 | 1 | 0.03% | 16 days | China |
| 8 March | New Plymouth | Gelbray Express | 3,347 | 0 | 0.00% | 20 days | China |
| 19 March | Timaru | Gudali Express | 3,307 | 1 | 0.03% | 18 days | China |
| 23 March | Napier | Yangtze Fortune | 4,447 | 4 | 0.09% | 18 days | China |
| 18 April | Napier | Gloucester Express | 3,655 | 2 | 0.05% | 16 days | China |
| 22 April | New Plymouth | Yangtze Harmony | 4,417 | 19(1) | 0.43% | 16 days | China |
| 9 July | New Plymouth | Yangtze Fortune | 6,000 | 4 | 0.07% | 17 days | China |
| 11 July | Napier | Dareen | 7,300 | 13 | 0.18% | 20 days | China |
| 22 July | Napier | Shorthorn Express | 3,992 | 1 | 0.03% | 20 days | China |
| 4 August | Timaru | Ocean Drover | 14,000 | 10 | 0.07% | 16 days | China |
| 14 August | Napier |
Gulf Livestock 1 Tragically lost at sea. See note below (2) |
5,867 | ||||
| 19 August | New Plymouth | Yangtze Harmony | 5,782 | 49(3) | 0.85% | 17 days | China |
| 25 August | Napier | Dareen | 6,849 | 5 | 0.07% | 20 days | China |
|
8 November |
Timaru |
Ocean Drover |
7,928 |
5 |
0.06% |
18 days |
China |
|
9 November |
Timaru |
Ocean Swagman |
6,127 |
1 |
0.02% |
19 days |
China |
|
16 November |
Napier |
Yangtze Fortune |
4,654 |
2 |
0.04% |
17 days |
China |
|
19 November |
New Plymouth |
Ocean Ute |
4,857 |
2 |
0.04% |
18 days |
China |
|
20 December |
Napier |
Dareen |
5,763 |
2 |
0.03% |
19 days |
China |
|
22 December |
New Plymouth |
Yangtze Harmony |
4,377 |
5 |
0.11% |
21 days |
China |
| TOTAL | 109,921 | 128 | 0.12% | ||||
|
(1)The exporter reported higher than expected mortalities in this voyage and attributed them to heat stress and the reoccurrence of salmonellosis. The mortalities did not reach levels that require immediate notification to MPI. (2)The Gulf Livestock 1 was tragically lost at sea with all livestock. MPI halted exports while an independent review was carried out and introduced new requirements as a result of the review. The 5,867 cattle are not included in the calculation of mortalities or mortality rates for completed journeys. (Updated on 18 April 2021 for greater clarity) Independent review launched into animal welfare assurances for safe transport of livestock by sea MPI introduces new requirements for livestock exports following independent review (3) The mortalities associated with this voyage have been attributed to a number of factors including an extended period of rough conditions. |
|||||||
| Date of Export | Port of Export | Vessel | Number of Cattle | Number of Mortalities | Percentage Mortality | Voyage Length | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 March | Timaru | Ganado Express | 3,164 | 4 | 0.13% | 17 days | China |
| 24 March | Napier | Girolando Express | 3,229 | 1 | 0.03% | 16 days | China |
| 15 April | Napier | Gelbray Express | 3,300 | 3 | 0.09% | 15 days | China |
| 21 April | Timaru | Bison Express | 2,411 | 2 | 0.08% | 18 days | China |
| 4 August | Napier | Yangtze Harmony | 5,400 | 3 | 0.06% | 18 days | China |
| 17 September | Napier | Yangtze Fortune | 3,983 | 3 | 0.08% | 18 days | China |
| 4 October | Timaru | Brahman Express | 3,791 | 2 | 0.05% | 15 days | China |
| 17 October | Napier | Ganado Express | 3,313 | 4 | 0.12% | 16 days | China |
| 9 November | Timaru | Brahman Express | 3,978 | 1 | 0.03% | 16 days | China |
| 27 December | Timaru | Ocean Swagman | 6,700 | 7 | 0.10% | 19 days | China |
| TOTAL | 39,269 | 30 | 0.08% |
| Date of Export | Port of Export | Vessel | Number of Cattle | Number of Mortalities | Percentage Mortality | Voyage Length | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 April | Napier | Gudali Express | 3,300 | 3 | 0.09% | 15 Days | China |
| 9 July | Timaru | Ganado Express | 3,678 | 0 | 0.00% | 18 days | China |
| 13 November | Napier | Gudali Express | 3,810 | 3 | 0.08% | 17 days | China |
| 5 December | Timaru | Gloucester Express | 3,671 | 2 | 0.05% | 17 days | China |
| TOTAL | 14,459 | 8 | 0.06% |
| Date of Export | Port of Export | Vessel | Number of Cattle | Number of Mortalities | Percentage Mortality | Voyage Length | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 February | Napier | Awassi Express | 4,431 | 2 | 0.05% | 16 days | China |
| 18 April | Napier | Ocean Ute | 2,000 | 6 | 0.30% | 25 days | Sri Lanka |
| 27 April | Napier | Gudali Express | 3,153 | 1 | 0.03% | 16 days | China |
| 16 May | Napier | Finola | 515 | 0 | 0.00% | 11 days | Papua New Guinea |
| 15 July | Timaru | Bison Express | 3,068 | 2 | 0.07% | 19 days | China |
| 22 July | Napier | Ocean Drover | 6,600 | 7 | 0.11% | 13 days | China |
| 4 August | Napier | Gelbray Express | 3,328 | 0 | 0.00% | 18 days | China |
| September | Napier | Gudali Express | 4,200 | 1 | 0.02% | 16 days | China |
| TOTAL | 27,295 | 19 | 0.07% |
| Date of Export | Port of Export | Vessel | Number of Cattle | Number of Mortalities | Percentage Mortality | Voyage Length | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 February | Napier | Girolando Express | 3,203 | 2 | 0.06% | 16 days | China |
| 1 April | Timaru | Dareen | 4,945 | 4 | 0.08% | 21 days | China |
| 16 April | Napier | Galloway Express | 2,823 | 2 | 0.07% | 16 days | China |
| 22 April | Napier | Gloucester Express | 2,412 | 1 | 0.04% | 15 days | China |
| 18 May | Napier | Falconia | 650 | 0 | 0.00% | 21 days | Philippines |
| 6 August | Napier | Ocean Drover | 8,000 | 0 | 0.00% | 18 days | China |
| 18 October | Napier | Greyman Express | 4,163 | 5 | 0.12% | 16 days | China |
| 9 November | Timaru | Girolando Express | 4,295 | 2 | 0.05% | 18 days | China |
| 21 November | Timaru | Ganado Express | 3,884 | 1 | 0.03% | 17 days | China |
| 16 November | Napier | Bison Express | 3,111 | 5 | 0.16% | 18 days | China |
| 4 December | Napier | Galloway Express | 2,735 | 1 | 0.04% | 18 days | China |
| TOTAL | 40,221 | 23 | 0.06% |
| Date of Export | Port of Export | Vessel | Number of Cattle | Number of Mortalities | Percentage Mortality | Voyage Length | Destination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 January | Napier | Falconia | 1,877 | 34* | 1.81% | 21 days | China |
| 4 April | Napier | Girolando Express | 3,200 | 2 | 0.06% | 14 days | Vietnam |
| 27 May | Napier | Holstein Express | 1,567 | 0 | 0.00% | 14 days | Philippines |
| 11 June | Timaru | Nada | 3,224 | 1 | 0.03% | 15 days | Mexico |
| 13 June | Napier | Falconia | 1,976 | 0 | 0.00% | 24 days | China |
| 9 July | Napier | Ocean Outback | 4,381 | 2 | 0.05% | 18 days | China |
| 15 August | Timaru | Finola | 1,170 | 4 | 0.34% | 28 days | China |
| 26 October | Napier | Ganado Express | 3,791 | 5 | 0.13% | 15 days | China |
| TOTAL | 21,186 | 48 | 0.23% | ||||
| *Comment: 32 of the 34 cattle died due to acidosis and other metabolic conditions as a result of overfeeding of concentrates. | |||||||
Post-arrival reports required
Since April 2019 the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has required that a report on the welfare of exported livestock during the 30 days after arrival at the destination is completed for all shipments of livestock by sea that require an Animal Welfare Export Certificate (AWEC).
Reports should be submitted by the exporter to MPI within 60 days of the vessel arriving at the destination.
MPI assesses past reports when considering any future applications for an AWEC.
Post-arrival report summaries – live cattle exports
A summary of consignments of cattle exported by sea since April 2019 showing the mortality rates during the first 30 days after arrival of the animals in the destination country.
2020
| Date of export |
Destination |
Date of arrival |
Number of cattle at arrival |
Number of mortalities |
Percentage mortality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 February | China | 20 February | 3,730 | 0 | 0.00% |
| 5 February | China | 21 February | 3,519 | 0 | 0.00% |
| 8 March | China | 28 March | 3,347 | 0 | 0.00% |
| 19 March | China | 6 April | 3,306 | 2 | 0.06% |
| 23 March | China | 10 April | 4,443 | 4 | 0.09% |
| 18 April | China | 4 May | 3,653 | 2 | 0.05% |
| 22 April | China | 7 May | 4,398 | 10 | 0.23% |
| 9 July | China | 26 July | 5,996 | 3 | 0.05% |
| 11 July | China | 31 July | 7,287 | 7 | 0.10% |
| 22 July | China | 11 August | 3,991 | 4 | 0.10% |
| 4 August | China | 20 August | 13,990 | 3 | 0.02% |
| 19 August | China | 5 September | 5,733 | 14 | 0.24% |
| 25 August | China | 14 September | 6,844 | 6 | 0.09% |
|
8 November |
China |
26 November |
7,923 |
6 |
0.08% |
|
9 November |
China |
28 November |
6,126 |
6 |
0.10% |
|
16 November |
China |
3 December |
4,652 |
3 |
0.06% |
|
19 November |
China |
7 December |
4,855 |
6 |
0.12% |
| TOTAL | 93,793 | 76 | 0.08% |
2019
| Date of export |
Destination |
Date of arrival |
Number of cattle at arrival |
Number of mortalities |
Percentage mortality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15 April |
China |
30 April |
3,297 |
6 |
0.18% |
|
21 April |
China |
9 May |
2,409 |
8 |
0.33% |
|
4 August |
China |
22 August |
5,397 |
8 |
0.15% |
|
17 September |
China |
5 October |
3,980 |
0 |
0.00% |
|
4 October |
China |
19 October |
3,789 |
0 |
0.00% |
|
17 October |
China |
4 November |
3,309 |
1 |
0.03% |
| 9 November | China | 25 November | 3,977 | 0 | 0.00% |
| 27 December | China | 15 January 2020 | 6,693 | 0 | 0.00% |
|
TOTAL |
|
|
32,851 |
23 |
0.07% |
Find out more
- Restrictions to exporting live animals
- Steps to exporting live animals
- The New Zealand animal welfare strategy
Who to contact
If you have questions about voyage reports or exporting live animals, email animalexports@mpi.govt.nz