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Report calls for killing of cattle on pariah ship

It’s been recommended that more than 850 cows on a livestock ship that spent months wandering across the Mediterranean should be killed.

That’s according to a confidential report by Spanish government veterinarians seen by Reuters.

They concluded that the cows that spent months aboard the ship are no longer fit for transport.

An animal rights activist says the cows were kept in "hellish" conditions on the Karim Allah which docked in the Spanish port of Cartagena on Thursday (February 25).

It was after struggling to find a buyer for the cattle during the past two months.

The beasts were rejected by several countries over fears they had bovine bluetongue virus.

The insect-borne virus causes lameness and haemorrhaging among cattle - it does not affect humans.

The veterinarians' report concluded that the animals had suffered from the lengthy journey.

And that euthanasia would be the best solution for their health and welfare.