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A two-month investigation at a slaughterhouse with government approval has revealed "shocking" animal abuse.
Furthermore, the 200 hours of footage reveals illegalities within the UK. animal agriculture facilities. This is despite the fact that it maintained a "generally satisfactory" rating for six years.
Government approved slaughterhouse
Key findings included piglets appearing scalded in a hot water tank while still alive, and the cows beaten with electric batons.
One particularly harrowing scene shows a bull being violently beaten hundreds of times. It was filmed during January and February of this year within the family business G & GB Hewitt Ltd. in Chester, England.
Furthermore, the organization behind the investigation is Animal justice project - a non-profit organization that works to expose animal exploitation.
They claim that the Food Standards Agency appointed an official veterinarian. Their job is "to ensure that all animal welfare requirements are met, to ensure that animals do not suffer avoidable pain, distress or suffering."
However, in the footage, the professional is not present in the rooms where the animals are killed, which means that they will have overlooked `` pre-stunning shocks in animals, mishandling, faulty stunning equipment, stunning times insufficient and signs of conscience. ''
Since then, the findings have been forwarded to the FSA.
The shocking footage revealed
Illegal activity
Research also shows that stunning equipment fails, resulting in panicky pigs and sheep.
"The overall impression given is a poor routine practice in barely fit-for-purpose facilities."
Alick Simmons, Cheif's former Deputy Veterinary Officer
Additionally, the slaughter process was outside of the 15 seconds recommended by the Humane Slaughter Association. And investigators claim that no worker was seen checking their conscience, showing another gap.
Alick Simmons is a former UK Government Deputy Director of Veterinary Medicine.
In a statement, Simmons said: โThere are a number of cases in which apparent violations of the law are shown: improper use of electric stingers, cattle repeatedly struck with a stick, one appears to be pointed and the law prohibits the use of pointed sticks. - a sheep dragged by the horns, severely lame cattle and a severely lame pig presented for slaughter.
โThese animals are not suitable to be transported. In several cases, immediately after "pricking", abattoirs are seen to start preparing pig carcasses.
โThe law requires that pigs be bled for a minimum of 20 seconds. The overall impression given is a poor routine practice in barely fit-for-purpose premises.
โThe circumstances are compounded by poorly trained and poorly supervised officers. For example, handling, stunning and piglet killing are hardly adequate.
โThe stunning equipment appears to fail on several occasions, the repeated screams of the operatives simply add to the distress of the animals. And, at no time, are the operatives seen monitoring the effectiveness of the stunning. "
The photo in the footage shows a staff member abusing an animal with an electric prod. UK slaughterhouses
As a result of the images, the Animal Justice Project is calling for an "urgent" independent review of the UK slaughterhouses. In addition, it urges the cessation of public financing under the new Agriculture Law.
Currently, slaughterhouses across the country are eligible for financial assistance under the new law. It comes after a slew of small-scale slaughterhouse closures in the country, with fewer than 100 remaining.
Animal Justice Project founder Claire Palmer stated that the findings were both "law-breaking" and "extensive" in terms of suffering and abuse.
This was "right under the noses of the vet and CCTV," added Palmer.
Now the charity is asking Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs George Eustice to oversee a review.
You can find more information about the Animal Justice Project here.
