The investigation uncovered multiple instances of horses inside kill-boxes unable to move, while slaughterhouse workers apply electronic shocks on their bodies and anus. Horses also being lashed, kicked, and stomped.
CARO MELDRUM-HANNA: ‘Hundreds of registered racehorses are being discarded at slaughterhouses in Australia, in contravention of racing rules, rehoming policies and animal welfare guarantees. According to official data promoted by Racing Australia, the national body for thoroughbred racing, less than 1 per cent of horses retiring each year end up at an abattoir. This represents around 34 horses per year ending up at slaughterhouses, according to the racing industry.
But the ABC has obtained information revealing that, based on a two-year investigation, the number far exceeds this. Elio Celotto, from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, has told the ABC that many more than 34 horses have been killed in just one week at a single abattoir. “It equates to about 4,000 racehorses (a year) killed in this one abattoir alone,” Mr Celotto calculated. The scale of killing has shocked industry experts including Professor Paul McGreevy, an animal welfare and behaviour scientist with 25 years research experience into the thoroughbred racing industry.
“This is the sort of stuff that will shake the industry to its core,” Professor McGreevy told the ABC. “There is no way the industry can defend this. This is a clear breach of everything the industry has told us. “The truth that has been revealed is that thoroughbreds are entering knackeries and abattoirs and that their treatment within those facilities can be appalling”…
The investigation has also uncovered multiple instances of what Professor McGreevy described as animal cruelty and unacceptable practices at Australian slaughterhouses. This includes horses trapped inside kill boxes unable to move, while slaughterhouse workers apply electronic shocks on their bodies and anus. Racehorses are also being lashed, kicked, stomped and terrorised…
The ABC can also reveal that standardbreds from harness racing are being killed at slaughterhouses, despite the code’s policy of rehoming horses… “It is absolutely unacceptable that we could let our equine athletes down in this way,” Professor McGreevy said. “These represent atrocious practice. “It’s the racing industry that’s responsible for exposing these animals to this miserable end”.’ SOURCE…
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