This Wednesday, July 24, L214 revealed shocking images of the conditions of slaughter of animals at the Bigard slaughterhouse in Venarey-les-Laumes in Côte-d’Or, already pinned for similar acts in April. The association is now filing a complaint for mistreatment, and is calling for the closure of the place.
Images that send shivers down your spine. Cows with their throats cut, conscious, gesticulating in all directions and cows hanging by their legs, which also show signs of consciousness. These videos were filmed in a slaughterhouse in Venarey-les-Laumes, in Côte-d’Or.
A few months ago, the animal rights association L214 had already published an investigation with equally shocking images, which also came from this place. There were also cows found there with their throats cut without being unconscious. “On May 28, out of 132 animals slaughtered, 92 showed obvious signs of consciousness at the time of their killing”advance L214.
A situation that cannot continue for the association. It is asking the prefect of Côte-d’Or to immediately close the slaughterhouse. “These new images show that some violations continue. In the law, animals must be unconscious where they are bled. Here, we see animals straightening their trunks, blinking and trying to get up.”says Bérénice Riaux, in charge of investigations at L214.
Since the first investigation, L214 claims that five video surveillance cameras have been installed by the slaughterhouse outside the buildings. “This clearly shows the Bigard group’s concern to monitor the comings and goings rather than the killing practices of animals”the association says. The slaughterhouse had recently made headlines during the episode of the street flooded with blood.
L214 is filing a complaint for mistreatment against the Bigard group, owner of the slaughterhouse, as well as its CEO Jean-Paul Bigard. The association is also challenging state services. “The prefecture immediately sent the veterinary officer to the site. There was a visit followed by an audit by the national slaughterhouse representative that lasted two days. We did not receive any reports from these inspections, the slaughterhouse continued and today, we have these images that show that the violations are still there.”
There is something wrong, given the number of systematic and obvious violations.
Berenice RiauxInvestigations Officer at L214
The association expects more from the prefecture and the Ministry of Agriculture. “There is great frustration and irritation at the inaction of the State veterinary services. We have initiated an appeal against the veterinary services of the Côte-d’Or prefecture for failing in their control mission. And that is not normal, their mission is to protect animals in slaughterhouses. There is something wrong, given the number of systematic and obvious infractions.”
Contacted, the Côte-d’Or prefecture recalled that the case had been brought before the courts. “Following the previous video broadcast last April by L. 214, a thorough inspection was carried out at the request of the prefect and the company was ordered to take a certain number of corrective measures. An inspection carried out last May by the services of the Côte-d’Or departmental directorate for the protection of populations found that the requested measures had indeed been implemented by the operator. The new video broadcast by L. 214 is currently being analyzed.”
The Bigard group has not yet responded to our requests.