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 and no longer fit for transport, an animal rights activist said the cows were kept in hellish conditions on the Kareem Allah, which docked in the Spanish port of Cartagena on Thursday.

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 lame nous and hemorrhaging among cattle.

It does not affect humans.