‘Cruel’ Norfolk slaughterhouse exposed

The footage, which was shot at the Earsham-based JH Lambert abattoir over two days in March and April this year, shows several breaches of welfare laws, including:

• Sheep being dragged into the stun room by their heads
• Sheep being forcibly thrown into the stun room
• Sheep being picked up by their fleeces and ears
• Animals being improperly stunned

Among the most poignant and shocking scenes were piglets just a few weeks old brought to slaughter, and bloodied pigs who had fallen from the shackle line being dragged through a pen of live pigs.

JH Lambert is the sixth ‘red meat slaughterhouse’ that the campaign group has secretly filmed in the past year, and the first in East Anglia. Legal breaches and poor practice have been filmed in five of the six establishments, indicating that poor animal welfare is the norm, rather than the exception, in UK abattoirs.

Says Animal Aid Head of Campaigns, Kate Fowler:

‘There are a number of very serious problems at JH Lambert, not least of which is their method of stunning pigs which, we believe, causes significant suffering to the animals. But the rough handling of the sheep – who are routinely dragged, thrown and hit to get them to comply – shows a shocking callousness towards these terrified animals.

‘Sadly, what we have seen in Norfolk corresponds with what we have seen at other slaughterhouses across the country, and reaffirms our view that meat can never be humanely produced. That is why we urge everyone to view the films on our website and make the positive decision to go meat-free.’

Animal Aid has sent its evidence to the Food Standards Agency, which is currently viewing the film.

A 3-minute film shot at JH Lambert

More information:

• For full background or to arrange interview, contact Kate Fowler or Andrew Tyler on 01732 364546.
• Screen grabs are available on request.
• We have an ISDN line available for broadcast quality interviews.