Canadian Slaughterplants Fail Welfare Audit

Reproduced with credit to www.FarmedAnimal.net

Excessive use of electric prods, cattle falling on slippery floors, and cattle hung upside down and bellowing as their throats were slit were among the findings of a recent audit of Canadian slaughterplants.

Dr. Temple Grandin, who conducted the survey, expressed shock at seeing 3 cattle each hanging by one leg as poorly trained workers tried to kill them.

Plants automatically failed the audit if but one cow was found hung upside down while still conscious.

The audit was conducted about a month after a case of "mad cow" disease was discovered in Canada, although it was commissioned last year, by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

The audit was not made public until Grandin posted the results earlier this month.

The federally inspected slaughterplants (five cattle plants including one kosher plant, nine pig plants, and two chicken plants) volunteered for the audit and knew Grandin was coming.

Two beef plants failed, one for using electric prods on 90% of the cattle, and one chicken plant failed for receiving too many birds with broken wings.

In the past, Canadian plants have scored better than U.S. plants.

"[T]he audit paints a picture of an industry slipping behind the U.S. on animal welfare issues," said a Toronto Star article reporting on the audit.

According to Grandin, the problems could be addressed with better worker training and regular plant and equipment maintenance.

CFIA inspectors are now reportedly working to make sure the concerns are addressed.

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.