Shipping sheep and cattle across the world is safe, the nation's livestock export industry insists, after a cargo ship carrying tens of thousands of animals sank off the Lebanese coast.
The Panamanian ship, carrying about 10,000 sheep and 18,000 cattle, sank on Thursday on its way from Uruguay to Syria.
Rescue teams have stepped up their search for survivors of the freighter which was carrying more than 80 people, including an unnamed Australian.
Officials have so far recovered nine bodies from the water and say 35 people remain unaccounted for.
Animal welfare groups have renewed calls to the federal government to put an end to the export of live animals from Australia.
Animals Australia spokeswoman Glenys Oogjes says there are inherent and unacceptable risks with the practice.
"When something goes wrong, such as fire, ventilation breakdown or extremes of weather, thousands of lives are lost," she said in a statement.
More than 40,000 animals die on Australian ships each year from starvation and illness, the organisation says.
But industry body, LiveCorp Australia, insists the trade is safe and humane.
CEO Cameron Hall says 99 per cent of Australia's cargo arrives fit and healthy at their destinations.
"Australia operates under very strict regulations and uses only the best vessels to export livestock," he said in a statement.
"Australia's presence in the trade continues to set a global benchmark for livestock exports and we are committed to continuous improvements."
Australia exported more than four million sheep, 850,000 cattle and 80,000 goats in 2008.
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