A body representing Western Australia's livestock exporters has dismissed a call from a number of prominent Australians for an end to shipments to the Middle East.

The group, which includes author Tim Winton and actor Hugo Weaving, made the plea to the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader in a newspaper advertisement by Animals Australia.

The group says animals should not be exported to countries that do not have acceptable animal welfare laws and practises.

About 10,000 cattle have been exported to the Middle East from Fremantle over the past two months.

John Edwards, of the WA Livestock Exporters Association, says the group is ill-informed.

"At the end of the day animal welfare in a lot of the Middle East and Asian countries is at the level it's at because of Australia's involvement," he said.

"Take the Australian exporters and our industry out of these markets and animal welfare will be the biggest loser."