More than 1300 animals died in a six-month period of live exports from Australia, a figure representing less than 0.15 per cent of the total shipped offshore.
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The federal agriculture department released figures to parliament on Monday detailing animal deaths across the 170 voyages reported on between July and December 2018.
Of the more than 644,000 cattle loaded on to ships for export, 633 died, representing 0.10 per cent.
Some 647 or 0.23 per cent of sheep died out of the 286,209 that left Australia, while buffaloes had the highest loss rate, with the 31 deaths representing 0.53 per cent of the 5885 sent overseas.
All up there were more than 936,000 animals live exported during the period, with 1311 dying at sea.
A handful of voyages triggered an investigation after exceeding the reportable mortality rates of one per cent on voyages of 10 or more days.
Phoenix Exports had its licence suspended after 33 of the 2192 cattle on board a July 2018 voyage to China died mainly due to heat stress.
The suspension was lifted four months later, with the department satisfied the company had changed its processes around sourcing, preparation and onboard management of animals.
Pneumonia killed six of the 487 buffalo on a Frontier International Northern voyage to Vietnam in August 2018, prompting the exporter to change its onboard management plan.
A series of reforms swept the industry after shocking footage of sheep dying in their own filth during an August 2017 voyage came to light last year.
Australian Associated Press
