The Ganado Express, Bison Express and the Brahman Express, along with four other consignments from Napier, have exported 25,278 cattle to China in 2019 with 18 recorded deaths during transit to date this year.

The practice has come in for severe criticism from animal rights activists who say the bovines endure suffering and cannot handle these long journeys.

However, South Canterbury Federated Farmers dairy chairman Ads Hendricks said thorough and careful procedures are followed to prepare cattle for export to whichever destination they are sent.