(Rainer Wolfcastle) wrote in message . com...
Sick *******s.

Anger over 60,000 sheep stranded on ship
By Nick Squires
(Filed: 23/09/2003)


The Australian government is under growing pressure over a 'ship of
shame', carrying nearly 60,000 sheep and stranded in the waters of the
Gulf for weeks, which was refused permission to land.

The fate of the animals, carried by the transporter Cormo Express, has
gripped Australia and forced the government on to the defensive
following attacks from animal rights groups and the opposition.


It would be interesting to see what condition the sheep really are in.
There is a tendancy for animal rights lobby groups to exaggerate
these situations.

A typical journey to the gulf takes less than 2 weeks during which
time the sheep are of course watered and fed.

The heavy crowding and its potential to rapidly spread disease would
be the main issue.

A small number of the sheep are ill with scabbie mouth and this has
meant that the Saudi Authorities have rejected the shipment. It may
be that the Saudi authorities have exaggerated the problem so that
they can reject the Australian shipment and preferentialy trade sheep
with their coreligionist allies in Nth Africa.

Because of muslim food taboos and ritual slaughter requirements it is
not possible to slaughter in Australia and export frozen or chilled
carcasses.