A business built around livestock exporting to China is concerned about their future if the ban on livestock exports from New Zealand is upheld.
China prefers to import New Zealand cattle, but the majority come from Australia, Uruguay and Chile as well. But with the ban on livestock exports approaching, there will be more losses to New Zealand’s export trading sector than will be felt in China.
“If they can’t get stock from New Zealand, they will get it from elsewhere with lower animal welfare standards,” says Alex Feng of Beefgen, a New Zealand business that was established to target the Chinese markets for livestock, genetics and beef.