The Australian live export industry is under fire after video emerged of hundreds of sheep dying in extreme heat and filth aboard ships bound for the Middle East.
The video, filmed by a navigation officer aboard multiple voyages, shows dozens of distressed sheep struggling to breathe, while dead animals are thrown over the side of the boat.
Some of the footage, shown on Nine Network's 60 Minutes programme on Sunday night, allegedly came from a voyage by market giant Emanuel Experts, which is now the focus of a potential blockade.
Federal Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said he was "shocked and deeply disturbed" by the vision.
"This is the livelihood of Australian farmers that are on that ship - that's their pride and joy," he said in a video statement posted on Twitter.
An Emanuel Exports ship carrying 65,000 live sheep and 250 cattle to the Middle East will be blocked from leaving Australia on Tuesday if the export company fails to meet strict new conditions.
The Agriculture Department wants the amount of stock on the ship to be reduced, and independently gathered video and photographs of conditions sent to the department every day after it sets sail.
The minister resisted calls from political opponents for a renewed ban on live exports, noting it would primarily punish farmers and exporters who had done nothing wrong.
