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Viva!
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20 August 2001 Animals in abattoirs regaining consciousness due to new EU directive Viva! today releases video footage showing cattle regaining consciousness in an Austrian abattoir - following the EU-wide ban on ‘pithing’. Animals are shown blinking, struggling and crying out as they bleed to death. One animal is seen rotating his head and kicking out with his back leg. Viva! is concerned that similar scenes may now be taking place in slaughterhouses throughout the UK. Pithing involves inserting a rod into the hole created by the captive bolt pistol (stun gun) in order to destroy the animal’s brain. The pithing of cattle, sheep and goats has now been banned throughout the EU due to the potential risk of BSE-infected brain material entering the animal’s blood. The ban became legally enforceable in UK abattoirs on 1st July 2001. The Food Standards Agency say that, the pithing ban "could increase the risk of the animal regaining consciousness, giving rise to additional welfare concerns." Captive bolt stunning only causes a temporary loss of consciousness. If the gun is inaccurately aimed then animals may not lose consciousness at all. The Scientific Veterinary Committee of the European Commission state that 5 to 10% of cattle, "remain conscious or regain consciousness very soon." "It is hard to imagine the suffering
a conscious animal must endure whilst being shackled up and knifed in
the throat," says Viva!’s senior campaigner Rebecca Smith. "It
is horrifying to think that the killing methods being used at this Austrian
slaughterhouse are exactly the same as those now being used in the UK.
We are calling for an urgent, independent investigation to establish the
extent to which conscious animals are being slaughtered in this country.
We are also calling on people to help end this cruelty by going vegetarian." More information from Rebecca Smith
on 0117 944 1000.
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