THE first livestock ship to depart WA after the industry’s shaming last week was another horror story, with sheep being trampled and dying — while still docked in Fremantle.

The Sunday Times can today reveal WA officials wrote a damning report after getting access to the ship last week. Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan sent the report to her Federal counterpart David Littleproud on Friday.

The MV Maysora slipped anchor just after midnight last Wednesday with 74,000 sheep and 8000 head of cattle on board, bound for Turkey.

It left with barely a ripple of publicity. All media attention last week had been on the Awassi Express, also docked at Fremantle, as controversy raged over horrific video footage of sheep dying from heat stress on its decks. But WA animal inspectors from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development got on board the MV Maysora, even though the exporter tried to stop them.

Ms MacTiernan said after being denied access, inspectors obtained a warrant to inspect the vessel, which had arrived in Fremantle from Adelaide, bringing sheep and cattle before loading more animals here.

The inspectors observed that sheep couldn’t lie down without being trampled and could not access food and water. Some water troughs were empty, and many were heavily contaminated with faeces. Sheep had got out of their pens and were in raceways and stair wells, with at least two dead sheep observed.

The problems weren’t confined to sheep. Inspectors also witnessed cattle being trampled and not being able to regain their footing because manure had turned into a slippery liquid slurry.

Ms MacTiernan said the inspectors believed no vet had been on board between loading in Adelaide and arrival in Fremantle. She said their report made distressing reading, especially considering the main voyage had even got under way.

“There just wasn't room for these animals to deal with the basic contingencies,” she said. “And this is when they're on still water. Imagine what it will be like when the vessel is on the high seas.

“Already troughs were contaminated with faeces. What confidence can we have about what the conditions would be two or three weeks out?”

Ms MacTiernan said the fact inspectors had been declined access to the ship by the exporter was telling.

“I think if you were very comfortable with your standards you wouldn't have done that,” she said.

She said the inspection report confirmed problems weren’t just confined to sheep shipments.

“This shows it’s not all smooth sailing for the cattle either,” she added. “And whilst the most extreme problems are those (shipments going into) the northern (hemisphere) summer, we have clearly got issues outside that.”

Ms MacTiernan said the Government has obtained legal advice since the MV Maysora left that it might be able to stop vessels leaving in future when it believes there are breaches of the WA Animal Welfare Act.

But she said she didn’t want to be interventionist and would rather work with the Federal Government to lift standards and ensure compliance.

“We want them to appreciate the full magnitude of this problem and be prepared to work collaboratively,” Ms MacTiernan said.

.he Federal Department of Agriculture arranged for an independent observer to join the three-week voyage of the MV Maysora to Turkey, following the Awassi Express outrage.

Mr Littleproud last night responded: “I will be asking (former public servant) Mr Philip Moss AM to investigate the independent regulator's actions around the departure of this shipment as part of the review I've called into the independent regulator's culture, powers and capability.”

Animals Australia’s Lyn White said: “That these conditions were observed at a time that the trade is under scrutiny speaks to the fact that the welfare impacts on vessels are systemic and unavoidable no matter what time of the year they depart.”

The exporter in the case, Livestock Shipping Services, has issued a statement in response to the claims by the WA animal inspectors and Ms MacTiernan.

Managing Director Ahmad Ghosheh said inaccurate reports regarding animal welfare on LSS vessel the Maysora needed to be corrected.

“I was present when WA Department of Primary Industries inspectors came aboard the Maysora on April 11 and can confirm no attempt was made to stop their inspection,” he said.

“I can also confirm the Australian Government Accredited Veterinarian was on board the vessel from the commencement of loading at Port Adelaide.

“Welfare queries arising from the inspection were reported to myself, the on-board veterinarian and Maysora officers prior to the inspectors’ departure. Questions were answered to the apparent satisfaction of the inspectors in the context of the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock.

“For example, where it was noted that some water troughs in newly loaded pens were empty, it was explained that ASEL requires that water must be provided to sheep within 12 hours of loading.

“Similarly, when faeces were observed in some water troughs, it was explained that troughs are regularly cleaned by the 35 livestock crew members in accordance with regulatory requirements.”

On the cattle deck, Mr Ghosheh admitted concerns about an injured animal were flagged, to which he said an explanation was provided — “the animal was under observation in a hospital pen and provided with appropriate veterinary care”.

“Cattle pens which were reported as slippery had been attended to with corrective measures such as the provision of extra saw dust and were being closely monitored in an ongoing fashion,” he said.

“Two dead sheep observed, while entirely regrettable, were out of a total sheep consignment of more than 70,000 head and did not necessarily represent a welfare failure nor ASEL breach.

“Other specific concerns reportedly included in the leaked WA Government report were not raised in the post inspection debrief. This conversation was recorded by both the inspectors and the exporter.

“Media commentary also failed to mention that WA producer representatives viewed the consignment immediately after the WA DPI inspection. These representatives, who have extensive livestock husbandry and welfare experience, reported no concerns to the exporter.

“It must also be stressed that the Maysora complied with all legal and practical standards required by the Commonwealth prior to its departure.

“It is now 11 days since the WA DPI inspection and as yet no formal report has been provided to LSS. This delay, given a copy of the report has been provided to the Federal Government and evidently leaked to the media, undermines the integrity of the inspection process.”