Siba Ships Sets Livestock Record

SIBA Ships has set a new record for livestock shipment, moving 22,100 steers and heifers from Darwin, Australia to Jakarta and Panjang, Indonesia in one shipment aboard the MV Deneb Prima. The previous global record was 20,900 cattle, on the same ship. The cattle on board took 36 hours to load, weighed a total of 8,000 tonnes and consumed 200 tonnes of feed per day on their voyage. Mauro Balzarini, chairman of Siba Ships, says the cattle trade to Indonesia is a vital export trade for Australia and provides a major protein source for South East Asia. "Our modern ships carry the animals safely and kindly, with plenty of space, light, food, air and water, and they arrive at their destinations in great shape," says Balzarini. Siba also began a new regular service by shipping one of the largest ever consignments of dairy cattle from Australian shores, from Portland, Victoria, to Mexico. The 9,461 Jersey and Friesian heifers were loaded aboard the MV Becrux on Sunday for a 14-day voyage to Mexico - marking the start of a regular series of shipments from Australia to Latin America.