The footage shown on an Australian current affairs programme, 60 minutes, showed cattle at Cairo�s Bassatin abattoir being stabbed in the eye before having their back leg tendons cut so they could not run away. It also showed a steel restraint box, provided to the Egyptians by Australia to improve their handling of cattle for slaughter, which appeared to have been never used.
Australia�s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Maff), Peter McGauran, said in a statement that although the images shown in the broadcast were not confirmed to be Australian cattle, Australian cattle exports to Egypt will be suspended until the situation has been resolved.
McGauran said that he has brought the matter to the attention of Egypt�s Minister for Agriculture and Maff�s middle East-based veterinarian has been sent to Egypt to investigate.
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