Abattoir Staff Fired After Alleged Animal Abuse Footage Surfaces

Several staff members at a slaughterhouse in Arley, Warwickshire, have been dismissed following the release of footage online that allegedly shows sheep being manhandled. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched an investigation into the incident at the T&S Abattoir.

Nuneaton MP Jodie Gosling raised the issue in the House of Commons on Thursday, expressing horror at the video posted on YouTube by animal rights activist Joey Carbstrong. The 21-minute video reportedly depicts sheep being transported from a van into a gated area in the abattoir and shows hours of abusive behaviour at the facility in her constituency.

In response, T&S Abattoir management stated they were “shocked and disgusted” by the footage involving three employees and had “immediately” terminated their contracts.

Speaking in Parliament, Gosling highlighted the outrage felt by many over the failure of regulatory systems to detect and address the repeated breaches at the site. She called on the leader of the House to work with her to understand why it took an activist to bring these issues to light, while her constituents and the animals continued to suffer.

Responding to Gosling, the Leader of the Commons, Lucy Powell, said the FSA was taking action. “The FSA have already taken some action but if they’ve not taken sufficient action I will ensure that they do,” she said.

A spokesperson for the FSA confirmed that several people had been suspended from handling live animals and that the agency had “increased on-site presence during all slaughter operations whilst we look into these allegations further.” They added, “We will not hesitate to take more action as we have a zero-tolerance approach to animal welfare breaches.”

Original story: BBC News

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been confirmed at a farm in Hungary, marking the first outbreak in the country in over 50 years. The disease was detected in a dairy herd located in the Gyor area, near the Slovak border.

This outbreak has raised concerns among the agricultural community and authorities due to the highly contagious nature of FMD and its potential economic impact.

The National Food Chain Safety Authority confirmed the presence of the pathogen after 1,400 head of cattle exhibited classic FMD symptoms. Chief Veterinary Officer Szabolcs Pásztor has ordered the immediate closure of the affected farm and initiated an epidemiological investigation to determine the source and extent of the outbreak. The Hungarian authorities have also imposed a ban on the transport of susceptible livestock to prevent the spread of the disease.

Foot-and-mouth disease primarily affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, and pigs. It causes significant economic losses due to production declines and restrictions on international trade. The last reported case of FMD in Hungary was over half a century ago, making this outbreak particularly alarming for the country’s livestock industry.

In response to the outbreak, the UK government has announced an import ban on live animals, fresh meat, and meat products from Hungary and Slovakia. This precautionary measure aims to protect the UK’s livestock industry from potential exposure to the disease. Businesses involved in the import of these products have been advised to suspend their activities and seek further instructions from the Port Health Authority.

The Hungarian authorities are working diligently to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread. The epidemiological investigation will provide crucial insights into the origin of the disease and help implement effective control measures.

China’s customs authorities have suspended beef imports from seven meatpacking facilities across Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Mongolia as of 3rd March 2025.

The affected companies include two Argentine exporters (Frigorífico Regional General Las Heras SA and Frio Dock SA), three Brazilian slaughterhouses (Frisa Frigorífico Rio Doce S/A, Bon-Mart Frigorífico Ltda, and JBS S/A), one Uruguayan facility (Frigorífico Sirsil SA), and a Mongolian supplier.

No official reason was provided, but the move follows a record 2.87 million metric tonnes of beef imports in 2024, which led to an oversupplied market and historically low domestic beef prices in China.

The suspensions come amid an ongoing investigation by China’s Ministry of Commerce into the surge of beef imports and their impact on local producers.

In Brazil, the suspensions are linked to non-compliance with Chinese registration requirements, and the affected companies are working on corrective measures. The Brazilian Association of Meat Exporters (Abiec) stated that the companies involved have been notified and are adopting corrective measures to meet Chinese health authority requirements.

Argentina’s Frigorífico Regional General Las Heras SA faced issues after failing to deliver 70 containers in November 2024 due to exchange rate problems and operational constraints. The company has been working to resolve these issues and fulfil contracts.

China, the world’s largest beef importer, relies heavily on Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay as key suppliers. The import surge has raised concerns about potential trade restrictions, with results from the investigation expected by the end of 2025.

This could affect major exporters, including Brazil, Argentina, Australia, and the United States, especially as China has already announced a 10% tariff on US beef starting 10th March 2025. The situation reflects Beijing’s efforts to stabilise its domestic market amid claims that excessive imports are harming Chinese cattle farmers.

Original story: MercoPress

Plans to reopen and expand an abattoir in Bradpole, Dorset, have been approved despite some residents’ concerns over traffic, light, and noise pollution.

The facility at Mangerton Lane, which had been shut for a year, has been acquired by Shropshire-based Pickstock Telford Ltd. The former farm site was first converted to abattoir use in the early 1990s.

One local farmer told councillors that the area needed the facility to be reopened, as it would be better for animal welfare by avoiding the need to transport animals long distances. Dorset Council’s area planning committee voted almost unanimously in favour of the plans, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillor Simon Christopher supported the animal welfare argument and welcomed the additional jobs that reopening and expanding the business would bring. The committee heard that the new operators would be increasing the size of buildings on the site, enhancing security, and making changes to the car park.

Additionally, a 3m (9.8ft) timber acoustic fence would be installed, and landscaping would be added to the northern and eastern boundaries, creating a biodiversity net gain.

Original story: BBC News

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 26 (Reuters) – The Argentine government has authorised the export of live cattle for slaughter, reversing a prohibition that had been in place for over five decades.

This decision follows a year in which the country’s beef exports reached their highest level in a century.

Argentina, renowned for its beef cuts and traditional asado barbecue, is a major ranching and farming powerhouse. It is also a significant exporter of processed soybeans, corn, and wheat. Sales from the agricultural sector to foreign markets provide the largest source of hard currency for the central bank, which is essential for financing imports and paying down debts.

In a statement on Wednesday, the agriculture secretariat said the policy reversal on cattle exports was aimed at fostering “greater competition within the meat and livestock chain.” This move aligns with libertarian President Javier Milei’s efforts to deregulate South America’s second-biggest economy and stimulate growth.

Earlier this month, Milei’s government introduced a five-month tax cut for exports of grains and their derivatives to encourage sales abroad. Additionally, late last year, Milei supported a reduction in local duties on beef exports, lowering the rate to 6.75% from the previous 9%.

Original story: Reuters

COPENHAGEN, Feb 27 (Reuters) – Meat producer Danish Crown announced on Thursday that it has closed its factory in Pinghu, eastern China, following a strategic review. The company stated that the plant did not align with its overall strategy.

Danish Crown, one of the world’s largest pork exporters, has undergone significant restructuring in recent years. This includes the closure of one of its major slaughterhouses in Denmark and the announcement last October of plans to cut around 500 white-collar jobs.

The farmer-owned company opened the Pinghu factory near Shanghai in 2019 as part of its expansion efforts in China. However, the facility never achieved the expected earnings despite substantial efforts to address initial challenges.

In a statement, Danish Crown said, “It has however never succeeded in generating the expected earnings, even though significant efforts were made during the period to rectify a poor start.”

As a result, Danish Crown has closed the plant, laid off 112 employees, and signed a letter of intent to sell the facility.

Original story: Reuters