Australian cattle trade halted over 'cruelty'

The Australian government has suspended live cattle exports to 11 Indonesian abattoirs featured in a television programme showing steers being whipped and taking minutes to bleed to death.

Joe Ludwig, the Agriculture Minister, said the suspension would be in force while an investigator reviewed the A$330m (£214m)-a-year live cattle trade with Indonesia. Mr Ludwig warned that more slaughterhouses could be added to the list, but Indonesia's agriculture ministry said its methods were based on Islamic teachings.