AN INDUSTRY delegation will head to the Middle East next week to talk to importers about Australian stock.
The Australian Live Exporters Council will be part of a delegation that will fly to the Middle East later this month to "resolve impediments to trade", chief executive officer Alison Penfold said.
She said the industry should be commended for suspending exports to Bahrain - Australia's second biggest export destination last year - while the issues were sorted out. Last year, 350,000 sheep or 14 per cent of all sheep exports went to Bahrain.
"The live export industry cannot operate without delivering on animal welfare and understands this," Ms Penfold said.
Fallout is continuing from last week's airing of the Four Corners program, which showed cruelty to sheep in Pakistan. The sheep had originally been destined for Bahrain but were rejected on animal health concerns, and were sent on to Pakistan.
On Monday, the Greens released a position paper on live exports, identifying issues it said must be addressed. Greens senator for NSW, Lee Rhiannon said the public was "distressed over live export cruelty".
Issues over the trade are starting to affect markets and buying patterns for Merino wethers.
Crawford Dowling Ballarat agent Paul Constable, from Ballarat, paid $43.50 for young Merino wether lambs last week at the Paraway Riverina wether sale but said the trade issues need to be considered.
