‘No mistreatment’ in activists’ undercover abattoir footage

Undercover footage of a Suffolk abattoir published by animal rights campaigners shows no mistreatment of pigs, according to a leading vet who has watched the clips.

This week, the Animal Justice Project (AJP) released a six-minute video of its 2023 operation at C&K Meats, alleging that a series of welfare breaches had occurred.

See also: Animal Rising activists fined £57k after damage to Arla dairy

But Jason Aldiss, a senior vet with decades of experience in leadership roles and head of external affairs at the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (Aims), told Farmers Weekly that he saw nothing of concern in the film.

AJP claimed the video showed pigs being “struck with instruments, causing pain and distress”, “visible injuries”, “unclean pens” and “severe stress indicators”, such as heavy panting and frothing at the mouth.

Commenting on the allegations, Dr Aldiss said: “This has been designed to portray the industry in a bad way and get people to stop eating meat.

“But if these are the worst bits they have been able to pull together over what I assume was many hours or months or weeks of filming, then they have nothing.

“The way the pigs are being managed is perfectly acceptable for that environment and perfectly acceptable within the legislation.”

Dr Aldiss said it was clear from the video that the pigs were being moved gently with paddles, and that the pens had a bit of water and muck but had clearly been washed the day before.

He added that there was only one pig in a batch frothing at the mouth, and this was an indication the animal was hot, but clearly not panicking.

Another clip which showed a sow being stunned and killed on the ground was actually “exactly the right thing” to do, according to Dr Aldiss, who said it was clear she was suffering from a metabolic condition which causes seizures.

“Naturally, it goes into a catatonic and then quite reactive phase, which is normal,” he added.

“But the animal is totally unconscious and so isn’t aware of anything. The flailing about is the normal reaction to a captive bolt stun.”

Dr Aldiss also noted that the Farm Animal Welfare Council permitted animals to be slaughtered in sight of each other many years ago as there is no negative welfare impact.