Western Australia’s Animal Rights Advocates (ARA) say footage taken at Hawkesbury Valley Meat Processors was shocking but not unusual, and that slaughtering animals is an inherently cruel practice.

“This footage shows that slaughter is a horrible business anywhere it happens, not only overseas” said Nick Pendergrast, ARA Secretary.

“What we would say to anyone shocked by this footage is that you would also be shocked by ‘ordinary’ footage from Australian slaughterhouses – there is simply nothing that is ever nice about slaughter.”

“Other animals, like us, want to carry on living. When faced with death the value they place on their life is made very clear.”

The shocking undercover footage featured the brutal treatment of animals including cows, goats, pigs and sheep. ARA says that all animal products involve unnecessary suffering and death:

“For example, when dairy cows stop producing sufficient milk for them to be deemed productive they are sent to slaughter. Chickens who don’t lay enough eggs are also killed, many years before they would otherwise die. This happens routinely in industries that use animals, including in organic or ‘humane’ operations.”

In May 2011, undercover slaughterhouse footage screened on the ABC’s 4 Corners program resulted in many people reducing or eliminating meat from their diets.

“By choosing not to consume animal products, individuals can clearly and easily act to reject the inherent violence that comes with this industry. This simple action of saying ‘no’ does make a difference” said Nick.

“We have no nutritional need to consume animal products, be it meat, dairy or eggs. People from all walks of life, including elite athletes, demonstrate that a vegan diet is one on which humans can and do thrive.”

According to the world’s largest organisation of food and nutrition professionals, the US-based Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegan diets (those which include no animal products) are healthy, nutritionally adequate and appropriate for individuals during all stages of life.  [1] The Dietitians Association of Australia has a similar position. [2]

Some groups have suggested installing CCTV in slaughterhouses as a solution to halting the incidence of images like those from Hawkesbury Valley. ARA sees this as missing the point:

“There is no ‘right’ way to slaughter someone and it is simply not a case of exposing ‘bad’ slaughterhouses. These actions are the result of a system that places no value, beyond financial value, on the lives of these animals.”

Whilst the NSW Food Authority describes this latest case as the result of a “rogue operation”, [3] ARA insists that these events are in fact commonplace.

“Studies of slaughterhouses and interviews with their ex-employees indicate that this type of behaviour is widespread and simply part of what is overall a truly horrendous business” Nick said.

“Slaughterhouse workers face huge pressures slaughtering and dismembering animals in the quickest possible time whilst being charged with the grisly task of turning someone’s body into a mere product. It is no wonder that so many of them become desensitised to the daily violence involved.”

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1. http://www.eatright.org/about/content.aspx?id=8357
2. http://daa.asn.au/for-the-media/hot-topics-in-nutrition/past-hot-topics/vegetarian-versus-non-vegetarian-diets/
3. http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/cruelty-video-rogue-abattoir-checked-four-times-in-a-year-20120210-1saat.html