Dozens of cattle die on ship during Bass Strait crossing

Dozens of cattle are dead after a shipping mishap between Tasmania and Victoria.

Fifty-nine cattle out of about 200 shipped from Tasmania either died of their injuries en route or had to be euthanised by Victorian government officials on arrival at Port Welshpool on Sunday night.

Severe weather struck Bass Strait on Saturday night.

Victorian and Tasmanian government agencies will jointly investigate the incident.

"At this stage all the circumstances, including sea conditions during the crossing, are being investigated," a Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources spokesman said in a statement.

"DEDJTR and Biosecurity Tasmania will continue to work together to investigate the cause of this unfortunate incident.

"Understanding the cause is critical to preventing such incidents from recurring."

Several thousand cattle and sheep are shipped from Tasmania's King Island and Flinders Island to Victoria each year.

Animal welfare group Animals Australia spokeswoman Lisa Chalk says the incident was one of the worst live shipping incidents in Australian history.

She called for a halt on all live animal shipping.

"Questions need to be asked as to why that vessel left, because the animal welfare disaster that ensued constitutes a suspension of the trade from Tasmania," she told the ABC.