Today our team in Turkey visited Hayrabol slaughterhouse in Turkey to get an impression of the conditions inside and see if there was interest from the managers and veterinarian in animal-welfare. The veterinarians were present and very open to discuss animal-welfare. The manager of the plant was absent. They admitted that things could be improved on, but it was very difficult for them because they do not have much authority.
For example, when injured animals arrive, they are dragged out of the trucks, through the corridor of the slaughterhouse and fully hoisted. The veterinarians, like us, would rather that the animal at least be slaughtered on the truck or at the very worst, at the drain found at the entrance to the plant. However, the workers and the cattle traders find it easier to continue their bad habits of just dragging all animals to the slaughter floor with large drain inside the building. Sadly, we also saw this happening with our own eyes. A dairy cow arrived that could no longer stand up or walk. She was in pain, making deep and long groaning sounds. The workers and the driver put a chain around her leg and dragged her down the bumpy unloading ramp, into the plant and then fully hoisted her off the floor and cut her neck. The whole process took 10 agonizing minutes. Despite our protests and the veterinarians agreeing with our standpoint, there were too many people hollering and moving about to put a stop to it.
We had a long talk with the veterinarians after and will remain in touch with them and get in touch with their boss. Change has to come from above. We will return to this plant in the future and immediately use these images to spread awareness to consumers in Turkey.
Already two Turkish newspapers have reported on our findings: Cumhuriyet on July 21, 2019 read HERE and Edirne Gercek July 23 2019, read HERE.
