{"id":90949,"date":"2017-04-24T12:00:02","date_gmt":"2017-04-24T11:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=90949"},"modified":"2017-04-21T15:44:03","modified_gmt":"2017-04-21T14:44:03","slug":"a-national-disgrace-catalogue-of-animal-suffering-at-scottish-abattoirs-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2017\/04\/a-national-disgrace-catalogue-of-animal-suffering-at-scottish-abattoirs-revealed\/","title":{"rendered":"‘A National Disgrace’: Catalogue of Animal Suffering at Scottish Abattoirs Revealed"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

19 Apr 2017 – <\/em>Thousands of farm animals have suffered in more than 700 serious breaches of welfare rules in Scotland in less than two years, according to official inspection reports.<\/p>\n

Cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens have been found injured, \u00ademaciated, diseased or dead on arrival at abattoirs.<\/p>\n

Numerous animals were slaughtered while heavily \u00adpregnant or had to be repeatedly stunned before they were killed.<\/p>\n

There was \u201ccannibalism\u201d among chickens, \u201cunnecessary pain\u201d endured by cattle and \u201cmassive bruising\u201d on sheep, according to inspection reports by government watchdog Food Standards Scotland (FSS) obtained by the Bureau. In other cases there were \u201csigns of suffering\u201d, \u201cevident stress\u201d and \u201cextensive maggot infestation\u201d.<\/p>\n

One slaughterhouse worker was said to have been \u201cintimidating and vicious\u201d with a sheep. A driver was seen kicking a pig and another dragging a pig by its tail.<\/p>\n

Politicians and animal welfare campaigners describe the revelations as \u201cappalling\u201d, \u201cabsolutely horrifying\u201d and \u201ctruly shameful\u201d. They are demanding tough new curbs by the Scottish government.<\/p>\n

Scottish ministers stressed that mistreatment of animals was \u201cunacceptable\u201d, but insisted that \u201call required enforcement action\u201d was taken. The meat industry said it complied with operating regulations, and farmers pledged to work hard to maintain Scotland\u2019s \u201cexcellent track record\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe pride ourselves on being a nation of animal lovers and to hear of these breaches makes me feel physically sick\u201d<\/p>\n

The SNP MSP Gail Ross promised to pursue ministers as a matter of urgency to find out where standards had failed \u2013 and called for more CCTV in abattoirs. \u201cWe pride ourselves on being a nation of animal lovers and to hear of these breaches makes me feel physically sick,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really hope that the authorities crack down on those involved and that measures are put in place to make sure this doesn\u2019t happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n

The campaign group Compassion in World Farming demanded that farmers who broke animal welfare law should be made to repay public subsidies. \u201cThe data shows widespread suffering and is alarming,\u201d said the group\u2019s chief policy advisor, Peter Stevenson.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis regular suffering undermines the reputation of Scotland\u2019s livestock sector. We call on the Scottish government to urgently convene a meeting of all the relevant enforcement bodies to develop a strategy to achieve hugely improved enforcement of the legislation on welfare on-farm and during transport and slaughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Catalogue of animal suffering<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Scottish government\u2019s watchdog agency, Food Standards Scotland (FSS)<\/a>, logs animal welfare breaches found by inspectors at Scotland\u2019s 35 currently operational abattoirs. It has released a spreadsheet under freedom of information law recording 706 incidents between 1 May 2015 and 31 January 2017, many involving multiple animals.<\/p>\n

More than a third of the incidents (257) were rated as \u201ccritical non-compliances\u201d, meaning that<\/a> they posed \u201ca serious and imminent risk to animal welfare\u201d or had caused \u201cavoidable pain, distress or suffering\u201d.<\/p>\n

The remaining two thirds (445) were categorised as \u201cmajor non-compliances\u201d because they were \u201clikely to compromise animal welfare\u201d. Details of four incidents have been kept secret because they are under investigation and could end up in court.<\/p>\n

A large majority of the breaches (476) were listed as involving cattle. There were 86 breaches recorded with sheep, 77 with poultry and 63 with pigs.<\/p>\n

A third of the incidents (242) were blamed on poor conditions during transport. A further 237 were attributed to inadequate welfare on farms, including 26 cases of poultry with footpad dermatitis.<\/p>\n

According to the FSS inspection log, there were 130 incidents in which animals were killed when they were in the late stages of pregnancy. In 100 instances animals were found with bruising, broken legs or other injuries, and in 92 cases they were in poor health, weak or thin.<\/p>\n

There were 45 incidents in which stunning of the animals before killing them was deemed inadequate or ineffective, or where procedures were found to be deficient. Cattle were stunned up to seven times, after showing repeated signs of recovery.<\/p>\n

In one instance on September 27, 2016, a cow needed to be stunned six times before it lost consciousness. \u201cThe animal was first stunned in stun box, five subsequent stuns were applied while the animal was hanging over blood bath,\u201d said an inspector\u2019s report.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe animal showed clear signs of consciousness, i.e. rhythmic breathing, eye rolling, kicking of forelegs, attempts to right itself\/lifting head indicating that unnecessary suffering was caused.\u201d<\/p>\n

Most of the incidents (495) resulted in information being passed to local authority trading standards departments or Scottish government animal health offices. As well as four legal investigations, the FSS issued 14 enforcement notices and gave verbal or written advice in 146 cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Reported incidents at Scottish abattoirs 01.5.15 – 31.01.17<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Type of incident<\/strong><\/td>\nNumber of times recorded <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Killed in the late stages of pregnancy<\/td>\n130<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bruised, injured, wounded or with broken legs<\/td>\n100<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Poor health, weak, emaciated or diseased<\/td>\n92<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Inadequate conditions or equipment<\/td>\n47<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Multiple or inadequate stunning, or deficient procedures<\/td>\n45<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Other flawed procedures<\/td>\n38<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Overcrowded vehicles or pens<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Under legal investigation<\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Not defined<\/td>\n243<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Source: Food Standards Scotland<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat such unnecessary cruelty and suffering is being inflicted on defenceless animals is truly shameful\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Abattoirs identified<\/strong><\/p>\n

The names and details of the abattoirs and farms where the breaches were found have all been redacted. But in a joint investigation with Scottish outlet The Ferret<\/a>, the Bureau identified seven slaughterhouses where problems have been highlighted in separate audits carried out by FSS inspectors in 2016.<\/p>\n

These include the 2 Sisters poultry plants in Coupar Angus, Perth and Kinross; Scotbeef (Inveurie) in Aberdeenshire; Shotts Abattoir in North Lanarkshire; Wishaw Abattoir in North Lanarkshire; and Avonvogie Abattoir on the Isle of Islay.<\/p>\n

The Green MSP Alison Johnstone, who is vice convenor of the Scottish parliament\u2019s cross-party group on animal welfare, urged the Scottish government to take action. \u201cThese figures are absolutely horrifying,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat such unnecessary cruelty and suffering is being inflicted on defenceless animals is truly shameful, and it is essential that those responsible receive appropriate penalties and sentences.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnstone argued that CCTV coverage should be increased in slaughterhouses as a matter of urgency. In September 2016 the SNP conference agreed a motion backing legislation to make CCTV compulsory and to impose requirements on siting and use.<\/p>\n

The Edinburgh animal protection charity\u00a0OneKind\u00a0also demanded mandatory CCTV. \u201cThe number of severe animal welfare breaches revealed in this investigation is appalling,\u201d said the group\u2019s policy consultant, Libby Anderson.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe thought of cattle requiring multiple attempts at stunning, animals being killed in late pregnancy or animals arriving for slaughter bruised and with broken legs is simply unacceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The FSS inspectors logged animals arriving for slaughter emaciated, bruised or in the later stages of pregnancy. Image of sheep via Shutterstock<\/p><\/div>\n

Every abattoir has a permanent FSS vet and meat hygiene inspectors onsite to monitor day-to-day processing. They reported the 706 breaches listed in the FSS log.<\/p>\n

There is also a team of specialist auditors who carry out more detailed inspections throughout the year to determine overall compliance with food law, animal welfare and hygiene standards.<\/p>\n

These inspections take place on a rolling basis, with audit frequency dependent on previous performance. Auditors record any non-compliances found, rating them as minor, major or critical depending on their severity.<\/p>\n

Avoidable pain, distress and suffering<\/strong><\/p>\n

A major non-compliance, according to FSS criteria, is one that is \u201clikely to compromise public health (including food safety), animal health and welfare or may lead to the production and handling of unsafe or unsuitable food if no remedial action is taken.\u201d A critical non-compliance is classified as where the contravention \u201cposes an imminent and serious risk to public health (including food safety), animal health and welfare.\u201d<\/p>\n

FSS\u2019s most recently released audit reports<\/a> \u2013 summarising findings from inspections carried out between January and October 2016 \u2013 show that major and critical non-compliances were found in seven Scottish abattoirs, including red meat and poultry plants.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe level of inhumanity applied to animals before slaughter and during slaughter is a national disgrace\u201d <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Three abattoirs \u2013 2 Sisters Poultry, Scotbeef and a further red meat plant \u2013 failed to meet an FSS requirement that animals are \u201cspared any avoidable pain, distress or suffering during their killing and related operations.\u201d Two establishments, including Shotts Abattoir, failed to ensure that \u201cstunning methods ensure quick and effective loss of consciousness and sensibility followed by death.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wishaw Abattoir had a critical non-compliance on the requirement to ensure that stunning was quick and effective. Earlier in the year the plant was given a major non-compliance rating for failing to ensure that \u201cpersonnel demonstrate appropriate level of competency\u201d. Avonvogie Abattoir was found to have a major non-compliance of a requirement that \u201cstandard operating procedures are developed, implemented and maintained\u201d.<\/p>\n

Unison, the trade union that represents meat inspectors, was \u201cdisgusted, appalled and saddened\u201d by the extent of animal welfare breaches. \u201cThe level of inhumanity applied to animals before slaughter and during slaughter is a national disgrace,\u201d said the union\u2019s UK national officer, Paul Bell.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt proves that industry cannot be trusted to police itself. We must have 100 percent supervision and a camera system operated and maintained by FSS, not contractors. A civilised society should do nothing less.\u201d<\/p>\n

In August 2016 the Bureau revealed<\/a> that there had been more than 4,000 severe breaches of animal welfare regulations at abattoirs in England and Wales in two years. These included instances of chickens being boiled alive and trucks of animals suffocating or freezing to death.<\/p>\n

The Scottish government urged anyone concerned about animal welfare abuses to report them. \u201cAny mistreatment of animals, wherever it occurs, is completely unacceptable and given the seriousness of these figures we absolutely cannot be complacent,\u201d a spokeswoman told The Ferret.<\/p>\n

“All animal welfare breaches that occur within approved slaughterhouses in Scotland are investigated as a priority” <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are satisfied that FSS fully investigate any welfare breaches which have taken place at Scottish slaughterhouses and take all required enforcement action. Scotland has high welfare standards at slaughter, with strict legal requirements that must be adhered to.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is an official veterinarian present at every approved slaughterhouse \u201cto monitor animal welfare and to take immediate enforcement action if any breaches whatsoever are observed,\u201d the spokeswoman added.<\/p>\n

Response from the watchdog<\/strong><\/p>\n

FSS\u00a0stressed that it took animal welfare at abattoirs extremely seriously. \u201cAll animal welfare breaches that occur within approved slaughterhouses in Scotland are investigated as a priority and action is taken by qualified official veterinary personnel,\u201d said director of operations Ian McWatt.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe take proportionate action in relation to animal welfare breaches, which range from verbal advice, enforcement letters, welfare enforcement notices to investigations with a view to providing reports to the Procurator Fiscal, and if required the suspension or revocation of slaughterer\u2019s certificate of competence.\u201d<\/p>\n

McWatt confirmed that reports on a number of cases were being prepared for referral to the fiscal. \u201cAnimal welfare breaches that relate to transport or originating on farm are reported to the relevant enforcement authorities for further investigation,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cFood Standards Scotland delivers animal welfare controls at slaughter on behalf of Scottish Government and we provide them with regular updates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20 extracts from the official log<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Date<\/strong><\/td>\nExtract<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
06\/05\/15<\/td>\nStaff hanging up chickens \u201cfailed to assess consciousness\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
01\/06\/15<\/td>\nFive pigs dead on arrival at abattoir<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22\/07\/15<\/td>\n\u201cAnimal with severe head injuries\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
07\/09\/15<\/td>\nAnimal “broke its leg in the crush pen\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
01\/10\/15<\/td>\nCow with \u201cmassive milk overflow\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
23\/11\/15<\/td>\nTransport close to giving birth \u201cmay have caused unnecessary pain and distress to the animal\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18\/10\/15<\/td>\n\u201cSevere bruising in highland cows\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
05\/02\/16<\/td>\nFour sheep \u201cprobably suffocated\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12\/02\/16<\/td>\nDriver seen \u201ckicking one pig after unloading\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21\/04\/16<\/td>\nSheep with \u201cmassive bruising extended around whole carcass\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
27\/04\/16<\/td>\nCow with \u201csevere lameness\u201d and \u201cfull udder with signs of blockage or inflammation\u201d causing \u201cevident stress and unnecessary suffering\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
27\/04\/16<\/td>\nSix pigs and five sheep packed in \u201covercrowded vehicle\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
01\/06\/16<\/td>\nWorker \u201chaving an intimidating and vicious behaviour towards one sheep\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22\/06\/16<\/td>\nDriver \u201cpushing and dragging animal by its tail\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18\/07\/16<\/td>\nChickens with \u201cvery poor feather condition\u201d and a 14 per cent mortality rate \u201cexplained by cannibalism\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18\/08\/16<\/td>\nCattle \u201cin very poor condition\u201d with spine \u201cextremely prominent\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25\/08\/16<\/td>\nSheep with \u201cextensive maggot infestation on wound\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
09\/11\/16<\/td>\n\u201cNumerous conscious birds hung by one leg only opposed to being shackled by both legs\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15\/12\/16<\/td>\n\u201cHorns were penetrating through the skin and soft tissues\u201d meaning \u201canimal suffered for a long period of time\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
26\/01\/17<\/td>\n\u201cVery high levels of footpad dermatitis associated with hock and breast burns\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Source: Food Standards Scotland<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers maintained that it complied fully with all FSS plant operating regulations. \u201cWhile only a tiny percentage of the reported welfare issues actually relate to abattoirs in Scotland, the association and its member companies give all such reports their full attention and have carried out all necessary corrective action to avoid future issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

The National Farmers Union in Scotland urged members to respond to any regulatory notices, and to ensure livestock care met the high standards that the rules demand and consumers expect.<\/p>\n

\u201cScottish farmers and crofters have an excellent track record on animal health and welfare and that is a key element of the reputation we enjoy as producers,\u201d said union president Andrew McCornick. \u201cWe must all work hard to preserve that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Responding to the Ferret and the Bureau, 2 Sisters poultry firm said the highest standards of animal welfare were always a top priority. Its facility had complied with 77 criteria, and had been graded as satisfactory overall.<\/p>\n

A company spokesman said: \u201cA single case of historic non-compliance on birds held before slaughter was highlighted, which was picked up on FSS review of our own welfare officer\u2019s records. Due to machinery breakdown, birds were housed in our holding area overnight, as agreed by veterinary staff.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were monitored by welfare officers throughout, before proceeding to slaughter at 6am. This is technically measured as a non-compliance, but does not require any further action, and illustrates the depth and transparency of the FSS audit process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other abattoirs audited by FSS did not respond to requests to comment.<\/p>\n

Such reassurances are unlikely to satisfy animal rights campaigners. \u201cThis data is a damning insight into the brutality of farming and slaughter in Scotland,\u201d said the director of Animal Aid, Isobel Hutchinson.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnimals arrived at the slaughterhouse with infected open wounds, abscesses, lesions, back injuries, breast burns, and broken limbs. Some gave birth during transport or soon after. Others were found to be carrying full-term calves only when they were cut open after slaughter.\u201d<\/p>\n

The FSS inspection reports supported what Animal Aid had discovered from seven years of undercover investigations in England, Hutchinson argued. \u201cIt shows without a shadow of a doubt that the business of slaughtering animals is brutal and all too often is conducted without a thought for either the law or the appalling suffering of the animals involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

______________________________________<\/p>\n

Andrew Wasley is an award-winning investigative journalist specialising in food and farming issues. <\/em><\/p>\n

Rob Edwards is a freelance journalist specialising in environmental issues. He co-founded the Ferret, an investigative journalism co-op.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism is an independent, not-for-profit media organisation that holds power to account. We find the facts to expose wrongs and spark change. We tell the stories that matter. <\/em><\/p>\n

Go to Original \u2013 thebureauinvestigates.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

19 Apr 2017 – Cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens have been found injured, emaciated, diseased or dead on arrival at abattoirs. Numerous animals were slaughtered while heavily pregnant or had to be repeatedly stunned before they were killed. \u201cIt shows without a shadow of a doubt that the business of slaughtering animals is brutal and all too often is conducted without a thought for either the law or the appalling suffering of the animals involved.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[170],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-90949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-animal-rights-vegetarianism"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=90949"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90949\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=90949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=90949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}