Kankool Pet Food
Slaughters horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and camels, and processes wild-slaughtered animals including kangaroos and pigs, for pet food.
An 8-week investigation in 2020 uncovered branded thoroughbreds being killed on a weekly basis, including young unraced horses (not even 2 years old), ex-racehorses (one had last raced as recently as December last year, another October last year) and ex-breeding mares (including ex-racers who were ‘retired’ into breeding). The investigation also uncovered horses being picked up directly from several local studs/breeders and foster-mare facilities. A total of 13 thoroughbreds have been identified, many of whom were slaughtered in direct breach of Racing NSW’s rules which prohibit the slaughter of NSW-bred/domiciled horses.
As well as thoroughbreds, Kankool slaughters standardbred horses who have been used for harness racing (their slaughter also prohibited, by Harness Racing NSW), stock horses who have been used for rodeos and other competitive events, miniature horses and ponies, and any horse in between. Sheep and lambs, cattle and calves, pigs and goats are among the other species that Kankool slaughters.
There is a clear culture of disregard for animals at Kankool; sheep were found, on occasion, to not even be stunned before slaughter, having their throats cut whilst fully conscious. Cattle were frequently left writhing on the ground for minutes after being shot, sometimes with clear displays of partial consciousness/sensibility. One large pig was shot 8 times before they died, screaming out in pain after each shot, whilst blood poured down their terrified face. In the footage one worker is seen posing for a photo with a steer who has been shot but is still partially conscious, later lifting and lowering their severed cow’s head, joking about “who needs the gym”.
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News (6)
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Animal cruelty focus of NSW High Court bid
Tuesday 29 Jun 2021 by
Surveillance laws in NSW have been used to "hinder the exposure of systemic, commercialised animal cruelty," animal rights activists have said as they launch a High Court case against the state. Read more >
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High court to hear bid to overturn New South Wales ‘ag-gag’ laws
Tuesday 29 Jun 2021 by
Exclusive: Animal rights activists say laws stopping them filming in slaughterhouses breach their right to freedom of political communication Read more >
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Footage of NSW racehorse slaughter leaked
Friday 30 Oct 2020 by
Ex-racehorses in NSW have been sent to knackeries for slaughter in potential contravention of the state's racing rules, footage released by an animal protection group shows. Read more >
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NSW stud owned by Gerry Harvey among those accused in parliament of sending racehorses to slaughter
Thursday 29 Oct 2020 by
Billionaire Gerry Harvey has apologised after one of his studs sent ex-racehorses to pet food factories for slaughter, a practise banned in New South Wales, vowing “it will never happen again”. Read more >
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Racing NSW, Gerry Harvey and thoroughbred slaughter
Thursday 29 Oct 2020 by
An investigation into two additional NSW knackeries revealed the ongoing slaughter of ex-racehorses despite the industry's assurances, with numerous breeders including billionaire Gerry Harvey implicated. Read more >
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Racing NSW launches investigation after race horses continue to be slaughtered
Thursday 29 Oct 2020 by
Hours of footage obtained by animal activists revealed up to a dozen identified former racehorses or recently retired breeding mares were killed at one knackery this year. Read more >
Media releases by FTP (2)
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Activists issue challenge as Racing NSW backpedals on anti-slaughter rules
Tuesday 23 Feb 2021
Animal protection group Farm Transparency Project has hit back at claims made today by Racing NSW in response to new evidence of the ongoing slaughter of NSW racehorses. The racing body has distanced themselves from responsibility, suggesting that only a handful of the identified horses were in breach of Racing Rule LR114, despite many of the horses coming directly from the industry’s own breeders. Rule LR114 states that “any person that is in charge of or has in his or her possession, control or custody of any [eligible, unnamed or named] horses is not to euthanize or destroy a... Read more >
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Billionaire Gerry Harvey and two additional NSW knackeries implicated in ex-racehorse slaughter scandal
Thursday 29 Oct 2020
New evidence reveals the ongoing slaughter of ex-racehorses in NSW in breach of the state’s racing rules, with many sent directly from industry breeders including a stud owned by billionaire Gerry Harvey, owner of the prestigious ‘Magic Millions’ annual horse sale and retail giant Harvey Norman. Read more >
