Australian live sheep, cattle trade resumes

Australia yesterday lifted a ban on the export of live sheep and cattle to the Middle East.

The ban was imposed last year for four months after the death at sea of almost 900 head of cattle on a new state-of-the-art live trade ship, the Becrux, during its maiden voyage to Saudi Arabia.

The live cattle trade has risen from almost nothing a decade ago to 797,000 head valued at A$526 million ($591 million) in the year ended June 30.