SYDNEY: Australian cattle exporters said they had suspended live shipments to Egypt yesterday after abattoir footage shot by animal rights activists showed “horrific” mistreatment of cows.
The Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council, the industry’s representative body, said it had urgently halted shipments to Egypt after Animals Australia presented it with footage showing “vicious, cruel and clumsy” practices. “These acts are horrific. The outrageous cruelty has left me and my industry colleagues disgusted and horrified,” said ALEC chief Alison Penfold.
“No one in our industry, and no Australian, accepts such treatment of animals, and I believe the Egyptian authorities will not tolerate this.” Australia’s agriculture department said it had also received a copy of the footage, which has not yet been made public, and had requested that the Egyptian authorities investigate.
It is not the first time such a suspension has occurred — all live cattle shipments to Egypt were halted between 2006 and 2010 after footage showing acts of cruelty and were only allowed to resume under strict new conditions. Animals Australia said the latest video showed “brutal” treatment meted out at the only two abattoirs accredited under the tougher regime. Deputy agriculture department secretary Phillip Glyde said it was “quite shocking” to see a recurrence of the issue. AFP
