Australian, NZ cattle exported to Sri Lanka dying and malnourished, farmers say

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New Zealand and Australia have been accused of exporting substandard cattle to Sri Lanka.

Thousands of cattle were sent there to improve its fresh milk supply, and reduce its reliance on imported milk powder.

But Sri Lankans have told the ABC many of the cattle have died, leaving farmers broke and suicidal.

One man told the ABC he started with 200 cows and now has just 58 - and many aren't worth the price he paid for them.

He says there's enough tea land for his staff to work on, but they're digging graves for cows from morning to night.

The farmer says they've followed nutrition protocol, but the cows are too sick to absorb nutrients.

But Wellard, the West Australian live export company contracted to ship the cows to Sri Lanka and help establish the dairy farms, said only a handful of farmers had problems, because they had ignored herd management advice, ABC reported.

Wellard executive chairman John Klepec told the ABC the animals were inspected by Australian and New Zealand vets before export, and Sri Lankan vets had certified them as disease-free when they were delivered.

SAFE Ambassador Hans Kriek said the Government risked New Zealand's reputation by allowing animals to be exported "into such appalling conditions."

"The Government needs to urgently ban live exports, starting with an immediate halt on dairy cow exports."

"How many New Zealand dairy cows exported overseas have to die from neglect or disease before this Government will take any action?"