Live animal exporters in the Northern Territory have slammed a letter placed in a national newspaper today calling for an end to trade into the Middle East.

Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and actor Hugo Weaving are part of the 58 prominent Australians that have signed the letter, along with the Greens leader Bob Brown.

Steve Ellison, from the NT Live Exporters Association, says such a ban is not warranted and would be be disastrous for the whole industry.

"Whilst I can appreciate those 58 people's rise to prominence, they've obviously had no experience other than city life basically," he said.

"They turn the tap on and water comes out, you turn the light switch and the light comes on.

"It doesn't work like that out here."