Hawkesbury Valley Meats (closed)

Animal Liberation NSW captured footage on CCTV at Hawkesbury Valley Abattoir between the dates of 13th and 20th January, 2012. This footage captured several shocking animal abuses in breach of the Food Regulation 2010 act, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979.

The events captured in this video show inadequate stunning of animals resulting in them being 'stuck' (throats cut) whilst conscious and bleeding out. The footage shows incidents of animals showing 'sensibility' after having their throats cut, such as raising their heads and arching their backs. Animals are seen skinned alive due to inadequate stunning.

Two pigs are beaten with a metal pole after failing to be rendered unconscious from stunning. The pole appears to have a regular slot which indicates this is a normal procedure at this abattoir. These blows are unlikely to render the pigs unconscious, therefore they suffer the full blow of each strike. One pig was hit 13 times.

Cows are seen very excessively shocked with electric prodders as they move through the race. Electric prodders are seen as a last resort in this industry, however the footage shows this method being used when the cows have nowhere further to move. This is considered 'torture' under the Act. The video captures incidences of cows being shocked all over their bodies including the face and in the hind region between the legs.

After recieving this footage and visiting on site, Police and the Food Authority had Hawkesbury Valley Abattoir immediately shut down on February 9th, 2012. The footage captured by Animal Liberation was wholly instrumental in exposing this cruelty.

Unfortunately, the suspension on Hawkesbury Valley Meat Processors' licence was lifted by the NSW Food Authority, allowing it to recommence operations at its facility in Wilberforce from Monday 12 March 2012, after being closed for only one month.

Following the exposure of Hawkesbury Valley Meats Abattoir, all red meat abattoirs in NSW had their operations reviewed by the NSW government - and all were found to have animal welfare breaches.

In May 2013, Hawkesbury Valley Meat Processors was fined $60000 after pleading guilty to five charges of animal cruelty relating to sheep, pigs, cattle and goats processed in January and February of 2012. Windsor Local Court magistrate Margot Stubbs told court the acts were "sickening" and at the "gross end of inhumane conduct".