Heather's notion that we should all be kind to animals,
is one that I basically agree with, but also see some
problems on the horizon.

Lets say farmers stopped selling surplus livestock
to abattoirs.Numbers would soon build up to unsustainable
carrying capacities. With no money to buy grain to
feed them, they would die by their millions, of starvation.

So lets look beyond the philosophy, at the reality. What
is Heather proposing? That farmers be kind to animals
by selling the surplus, to pay for food for the remainder,
or to let the remainder starve to death through lack of
funds to pay for food?

Philosophy is all very noble, but reality hits us, even
if we try to deny it.

Excerpt from West Australian 12/02/07

"With so many cruel and repugnant practices going on in many Middle Eastern Islamic countries, including the way they slaughter animals, why don't we join the rest of the civilised world and ban live sheep exports to these countries?

"Or our famers' bank balances and their votes more important than our consciences, in which case do we have the right to consider ourselves "civilised"? (Stan Yeaman, City Beach).

No Stan. Profits are the only priority here to fatten farmers' bank balances which prevents this country from joining any "civilised" nation.

all good and well girl,BUT what do we do with the wethers if they dont go overseas...hmmm just what do we do with the 100`s of thousands of them. Do we simply leave them out in the paddocks or do we rely on AL and peta groups to buy land for the purpose of giving these wethers a home to retire to.Put your money where your mouth is and donate a few acres and get the ball rolling seeing as you are so dedicated girl and enlist the so called many other thousands that protest these exports to your cause.

Clearly Dickie and her cohorts don't have the foggiest about
farming!

Last I looked, farmers owed a combined 40 billion $ and those
pesky banks actually charge interest and want their loans repaid.
Those who don't pay, are shut down and sent broke, suprise surprise.

This drought has shown what happens when supply exceeds demand in
mutton supply. Sheep selling for 50c-10$, by their tens of thousands
around Australia. Live sheep ships came to the rescue of both
farmers and sheep, by offering 60$. That let farmers buy food for
their remaining livestock and actually feed their families.

If the "civilised" world cared a hoot about sheep, they are free
to remove trade barriers in places like Germany, so that our
mutton can be exported there and not be forced into the third world,
at third world prices. That is after its processed here at first
world cost, with all the taxes and charges, leaving farmers once
again with the rough end of the pineapple, so to speak.

Meantime Aussie farmers are still the only ones spending money to
assist in the gradual improvement of animal welfare in the Middle
East. Only that will slowly bring change in the Middle East.

Meantime many city armchair critics, who know nothing about
farming, criticise farmers. Nothing changes it seems!

Yabby,

You said, "Meantime Aussie farmers are still the only ones spending money to assist in the gradual improvement of animal welfare in the Middle East. Only that will slowly bring change in the Middle East."

I've been google searching trying to find the details of what that might refer to. So far I have not been able to find anything on any schemes, projects etc, that are being financially assisted by Aust. farmers, to bring about improvements in Animal Welfare in the Middle East.

Can you tell me what you were referring to, please?

REPOSTED QUESTIONS,all good and well girl,BUT what do we do with the wethers if they dont go overseas...hmmm just what do we do with the 100`s of thousands of them. Do we simply leave them out in the paddocks or do we rely on AL and peta groups to buy land for the purpose of giving these wethers a home to retire to.Put your money where your mouth is and donate a few acres and get the ball rolling seeing as you are so dedicated girl and enlist the so called many other thousands that protest these exports to your cause.
Posted by freerangemeat, Sunday, 18 February 2007 4:02:45 PM

Reposted especially for you Heather just in case the original slipped by your eyes,whats your answer to this problem as it seems that you consider yourself one of the "experts" re: live sheep exports.

Just what do we do with these "date expired" wethers Heather, Dickle?