Letters at Sea

Long-distance transport of farm animals is a growing component of the global animal trade. Written by a trusted expert in the area, Clive Phillips, this book stems from his research on live export from Australia to Asia. It focuses on the animal welfare implications of long-distance transport by ship, road, rail and air. It includes a collection of commentaries which describe Australia's experiences of live export, ultimately leading to the sheep trade being banned from 2028. Each commentary is accompanied by a narrative explaining the significance of the piece and its historical relevance to the debate about the live export industry. The book also discusses a range of related issues from an animal welfare perspective: the growing role of big industry in livestock farming, attempts in the USA to legislate against exposés of cruelty in the livestock industries, ethical issues surrounding livestock researchers and their support from the industry, and concerns about growing meat consumption worldwide.Revealing and engaging, this collection provides a very readable overview of potential problems in the trade of farm animals.