In its latest investigation, leading animal protection organisation Animal Aid placed hidden cameras in the stunning quarters of N Bramall & Sons near Sheffield over four days in mid-October. On its online shop, Eat Great Meat, the company tells customers that animals have “been reared in an ethical and traditional manner”. Customers would no doubt expect slaughter to be “humane” too. However, covert footage obtained from the premises shows nightmarish scenes faced by animals on death row.
In one clip a severely distressed water buffalo fights for his life, by desperately attempting to jump out of a restraint box after witnessing other animals being slaughtered. Fearful sheep are documented running in circles to evade being stunned and in another incident slaughtermen are seen laughing as an animal is twitching on the floor, having just been shot. At one point the udder of a spent dairy cow explodes. On two occasions already-dead cows are brought into the slaughterhouse on a forklift truck – their bodies were butchered and entered the food chain.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA), which regulates animal welfare in slaughterhouses, has confirmed there have been breaches of legislation at N Bramall & Sons. The organisation has since come out in favour of CCTV being made mandatory for slaughterhouses, with its Chair Heather Hancock informing the Farmers Guardian that the ‘case is made’. A cross-party representation of MPs has also thrown their support behind a change in the law. George Eustice, Minister of State for DEFRA, has, however, failed to bring forward any commitment, despite lawbreaking now being documented in 10 out of 11 abattoirs investigated by Animal Aid.
