This makes me want to cry. its bad enough how we treat our own animals in this country. Alot of these sheep will be used as sacrifices over there and as you can imagine that's not exactly alot of fun for the sheep. Most of you probably don't realize in the north island they do experiments on dogs!

This is wrong. the government has let down these sheep. i recommend that all meateaters go to meetyourmeat.org. vegetarian is the way to go

So what if they are bred for food. Why should we be allowed to breed sentient beings just so they can be tortured. the same argument can be used to excuse parents killing their children. We have some a long way since Old Testament times when children were born to satisfy parents, and nobody questioned Abraham's right to kill his son. Animals are also sentient beings and should be treated with the same respect. Live sheep exports should be banned, together with lame, clinically obese broiler chickens, battery hens, pigs in crates, overworked dairy cows, vivisection and other forms of animal abuse. I don't believe the rhetoric about animals being required for the survival of humans. On the contrary the best thing we can do for our planet is become vegetarian.

So the Minister of Agriculture regards exporting live sheep as a source of export income - at what cost? Cruelty to animals for monetary gain is despicable and sickening. And how does he propose to monitor treatment of these animals after leaving NZ shores? Our culture is very different from that of Muslims and we in New Zealand do not want our animals treated in such a manner. Shame on you Mr Carter for a very disappointing start to your term as Minister.