Tasmania, AUSTRALIA – Due to the acquired graphic content, shows the unlawful and prolonged painful suffering of pigs, sheep, and cows at Derwent valley, north of Hobart. The footage came from an anonymous source and was filmed last month.
Meanwhile, Tasmania’s Department of Primary Industries is now conducting an investigation if the said slaughterhouse violates Animal Welfare Act.
But, the operator strongly denied the accusations and insisted that their operation is lawful.
On the other hand, Spokeswoman Emma Hurst accused the slaughter house of animal cruelty based on the footage. “This is grotesque cruelty that we’re seeing here…and it’s completely unacceptable,” she said. “The footage shows animals being beaten with pipes, kicked in the head …there’s clearly failed attempts to stun the animals.”
Operator complains about ‘trespassing’
Michael Munning, the owner of Gretna Quality Meats was happy to be interviewed and invited the ABC into their slaughterhouse. It was a small-scale business that employed just three people.
He admitted that they are using a rifle in their operation but strongly denied the act of cruelty, and said he trusted his workers.
He also expressed his frustration and anger about filming the footage without their permission. “Actually, it’s very frustrating that somebody’s really went to the trouble of breaking into the property and actually putting up cameras,” he said. “It’s a small country abattoir, small country town; it’s just something that doesn’t happen.”
Vet says rifle used not appropriate
Dr. Andrew Nicholson, former meatworks head and a vet of 43 years, said he had some concerns based on the footage.
In a statement, he said, “I’m not a firearms expert but obviously the rifle, as it was used, that vision, was not suitable because from what I saw there were at least two shots taken…neither were effective,”
“That should be carried out as a single shot — the animal should drop immediately.
“Under the circumstances demonstrated in the vision … that’s not adequate.
“There was a lot of trouble restraining the animal effectively for the rifle to be used,”
Lastly, he said “In an abattoir situation there should be facilities that are adequate to move the animals from place to place, to be able to hold the animals in the facility and move them around with not having to use prods or steel bars,”
About the prolonged death and suffering of the animals on the said slaughter house, Dr. Nicholson said in one of the scenes from the footage that he saw some signs of breathing. However, he emphasized that it is hard to identify and not sure if the current procedures they are doing were effective.
“If you’re not used to that type of thing it can be quite distressing,” he said.
“The only comment I’d make on that is you couldn’t make an effective judgment without being present at the time of stunning … and neurologically examining that animal.
“The best-intentioned people can find it difficult if the facilities are not adequate and you can have the best facilities in the world, but if you haven’t got skilled staff available on the day, problems can occur,” he said.
Operator maintains animals were already dead
Mr. Munnings strongly insisted that the animals were already dead.
“A lot of the footage shows the nerve reaction from the animal and sometimes it can last up to two minutes, the nerves,” he said. “But the animals are already dead.”
The meatworks said it would be reporting the break-ins to the police.
It is not clear how long the department’s investigation will take.
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