Mr Dundon admitted that given current supply issues there would be some readjustment in the Middle East market towards more chilled meat, it would not be to the extent where it could ever replace live sheep export.

"For a start there isn't the air freight capacity to supply 2500 chilled carcases to Bahrain a day or 4500 to Kuwait a day, which is what both these markets demand," Mr Dundon said.

"While there is some chilled and frozen carcases sent to these markets, it makes up a small percentage of the exports.

"Most of the chilled product goes to five star restaurants and not to the poorer people who buy the fresh meat from the live sheep.

"Given the supply issues at the moment there will be some readjustment towards chilled produce but supply would have to be really challenged for the market to want more chilled meat."

Mr Dundon compared consumers in the Middle East to Australian consumers using fresh and frozen milk as an example.

"If you had the option of buying fresh or frozen milk you would go for fresh, and if the retailer said you had to buy frozen milk because that is what some lobby group said you should be using, you wouldn't be happy about it. This is the way consumers in the Middle East look at their sheep meat.

"Given the option of buying frozen or fresh, they will demand fresh every time."