An industry funded pilot training program, developed and tested by Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic Dr Rebecca Doyle and Schuster Consulting Group to improve the welfare of animals in live exports, has been extended to the Middle East.

The animal physiology and welfare lecturer travelled to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in February to conduct the Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) -funded train-the-trainer style workshops.

 

The workshops focused on educating people such as local veterinarians and managers from feedlots and abattoirs, UAE and Australian government representatives, Australian exporters and MLA consultants from the Middle East.

 

Dr Doyle said, “The focus was on sheep welfare and behaviour and how to apply that in practice in the Middle East region.

 

“The most significant issue for the welfare of production animals is stockperson interaction. A stockperson with a good understanding of animal welfare and behaviour can eliminate almost all possible risks to an animal's welfare.

 

“I was exceptionally happy with how the pilot went in Dubai. Everyone's enthusiasm and engagement was invaluable, and I am confident that the final training package will further improve the welfare of sheep by improving a stockperson's understanding of sheep welfare and behaviour.”

 

 Feedback on the pilot training material from the Dubai workshops will be taken into account in the finalisation of the sheep welfare pilot training program.

 

Once completed, the training package will be available from the MLA.

 

Dr Doyle’s trip to the Middle East follows her visit to Indonesia at the end of 2012 to run a pilot program, focusing on cattle. Read more on CSU News here.

 

Dr Doyle is a lecturer from the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga.

 

She is a member of the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation – a collaborative research alliance between CSU and NSW Department of Primary Industries.

 

The CSU academic was recently involved in a fortnight long program to encourage school students to take up a career in science. Read more about I’m a scientist. Get me out of Here! on CSU News here.