Suffering of gassed pigs laid bare in undercover footage of UK slaughterhouse
New undercover footage showing UK pigs being gassed before slaughter has led to new calls to investigate CO2 use.
Activists say the footage - the first of its kind to be obtained from a UK slaughterhouse - shows the 'completely inhumane' nature of using CO2 to stun pigs before they are killed. But the pig industry says its use is recognized as the most welfare-friendly method available and says alternatives are being sought.
Images released today were obtained, campaigners say, using hidden cameras at the Pilgrim's Pride slaughterhouse in Ashton-under-Lyne in north-west England in February 2021. They show pigs in groups of five or six being mechanically herded in a cage then lowered into a Butina gas chamber in a Ferris wheel like system.
The pigs appear to be in distress as the gas concentration increases, one of them still kicking after more than three minutes.
"The pigs in the video react to the first inhalation of carbon dioxide with fear and discomfort obvious," said Donald Broom, professor of animal welfare at the University of Cambridge. "They try to escape but cannot. Panting can be seen in all pigs where the mouth is visible. Panting indicates poor welfare. The period of poor welfare continues until what the pig loses consciousness."
Paul Roger, veterinarian and founding member of the Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law Veterinary Association, says seemed to start waking up from the gas before slaughter. “If this is how animals are treated in this factory, they are not being treated humanely. This is an unacceptable way to treat any animal and it really concerns me. CO2 comes from the preference of corporate profit over animal interests. "We urgently need to stop using animals as resources because this kind of horror show is the result." -spacefinder-type="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.VideoYoutubeBlockElement" class="dcr-173mewl">[embedded content]
Pilgrim's UK, formerly known as Tulip , is a division of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, which is owned by JBS, the Brazilian meat producer. Its animal welfare policy states: "At Pilgrim's UK it is essential that all pigs are treated humanely throughout their lives and that the welfare of pigs is always at the forefront of everything we do. ." This confirms that all Pilgrim's Pigs are CO2 stunned.
A Pilgrim's Pride spokesperson said: "There is no evidence to identify this as of our site, and it would be inappropriate for us to comment on that basis.In addition, the Food Standards Agency is legally required to have a presence at all sites and would regularly review all images taken at a slaughterhouse to ensure that the animals are treated humanely, and we have had no issues raised within the timeframe you provided."
In 2003, a government advisory body, Farm Animal Welfare Council, said CO2 stunning/killing 'is not acceptable and we want to see it phased out within five years' However, its use has instead increased to 88% of all pigs.. .
New undercover footage showing UK pigs being gassed before slaughter has led to new calls to investigate CO2 use.
Activists say the footage - the first of its kind to be obtained from a UK slaughterhouse - shows the 'completely inhumane' nature of using CO2 to stun pigs before they are killed. But the pig industry says its use is recognized as the most welfare-friendly method available and says alternatives are being sought.
Images released today were obtained, campaigners say, using hidden cameras at the Pilgrim's Pride slaughterhouse in Ashton-under-Lyne in north-west England in February 2021. They show pigs in groups of five or six being mechanically herded in a cage then lowered into a Butina gas chamber in a Ferris wheel like system.
The pigs appear to be in distress as the gas concentration increases, one of them still kicking after more than three minutes.
"The pigs in the video react to the first inhalation of carbon dioxide with fear and discomfort obvious," said Donald Broom, professor of animal welfare at the University of Cambridge. "They try to escape but cannot. Panting can be seen in all pigs where the mouth is visible. Panting indicates poor welfare. The period of poor welfare continues until what the pig loses consciousness."
Paul Roger, veterinarian and founding member of the Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law Veterinary Association, says seemed to start waking up from the gas before slaughter. “If this is how animals are treated in this factory, they are not being treated humanely. This is an unacceptable way to treat any animal and it really concerns me. CO2 comes from the preference of corporate profit over animal interests. "We urgently need to stop using animals as resources because this kind of horror show is the result." -spacefinder-type="model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.VideoYoutubeBlockElement" class="dcr-173mewl">[embedded content]
Pilgrim's UK, formerly known as Tulip , is a division of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, which is owned by JBS, the Brazilian meat producer. Its animal welfare policy states: "At Pilgrim's UK it is essential that all pigs are treated humanely throughout their lives and that the welfare of pigs is always at the forefront of everything we do. ." This confirms that all Pilgrim's Pigs are CO2 stunned.
A Pilgrim's Pride spokesperson said: "There is no evidence to identify this as of our site, and it would be inappropriate for us to comment on that basis.In addition, the Food Standards Agency is legally required to have a presence at all sites and would regularly review all images taken at a slaughterhouse to ensure that the animals are treated humanely, and we have had no issues raised within the timeframe you provided."
In 2003, a government advisory body, Farm Animal Welfare Council, said CO2 stunning/killing 'is not acceptable and we want to see it phased out within five years' However, its use has instead increased to 88% of all pigs.. .
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