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A livestock agent is warning of enormous ramifications for farmers, as live cattle exports remain suspended in the wake of last week's shipping tragedy off Japan.
The Ministry for Primary Industries announced the temporary ban after a ship carrying 43 crew - including two New Zealanders - and nearly 6000 cows capsized.
Bill Sweeney is the general manager of New Zealand Farmers Livestock, which supplies cows for the shipments.
He says the suspension will be a major blow for exporters and also some farmers in both the short and long term.
Sweeney speaks to Corin Dann.