Thousands of Australian sheep fly to China

Australia's live sheep exports in the first ten months of 2014 totaled 1,947,000 head, worth A$202 million, according to data from Meat & Livestock Australia. China accounted for only a very small part while Kuwait and Qatar took the largest share, with 663,004 head and 489,250 head shipped.

However, as China and Australia have concluded free trade agreement talks in November 2014 and 95 percent of Australian exports to China will finally be tariff-free, this situation may change.

On Jan 12, a livestock company in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Northwest China, imported 1,438 sheep for crossbreeding with local sheep. The transportation cost for each sheep was around 2,000 yuan ($322).

Likewise, on the early morning of Jan 14, a total of 1,431 Australian sheep arrived in Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan province, where the Chinese importer Zhonghe Group was based, dahe.com reported.

The cheapest sheep costs 30,000 yuan, while the most expensive one costs 150,000 yuan.

Another 1500 head will follow on Jan 21.

Dorper sheep from Australia arrive at an airport in Urumqi, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Jan 12, 2015. A livestock company in the autonomous region imported 1,438 Dorper sheep for crossbreeding with local sheep. The transportation cost for each sheep was around 2,000 yuan ($322). [Photo/ CFP]