Slaughter

Cattle, sheep, goats and pigs are killed at the abattoir. Cattle, sheep and goats are walked to the slaughter halls from the market, while severely injured cattle are brought in on hand-carts. It appears that there is no system for maneuvering injured sheep, goats and pigs, and it is, therefore, assumed that these animals are simply forced to walk or left to die. Hygiene standards are appalling, and all the animals are slaughtered and dressed by butchers without sanitary and protective clothing, gloves and shoes.

Cattle

Observations made by PETA undercover investigators reveal that buffalos and bullocks are slaughtered in full view of each other on the slaughter floor, then shackled and hoisted upside down to be bled while conscious. These observations contradict the incredible and statistically impossible picture of separate slaughter Dr Vishnupurikar, Dr Chavarkar and the rest of the Deonar staff attempted to portray to PETA, WSPA, HSA, and CLE.

In December 2000, 12 dead and dying cattle were observed strewn across the slaughter floor when the PETA investigator first entered the slaughter hall, making it evident that cattle are butchered in front of each other. After these 12 animals were cleared, the Deonar staff took special care to slaughter cattle separately in an effort to create a false impression of the abattoir's routine activities. During WSPA's announced visit, it noted, "It took some 20 minutes for these three cattle to be handled and killed this way [separately]. If this is normal procedure, the estimated throughput would be 10 cattle per hour.

According to Dr Vishnupurikar, the throughput of cattle per hour is 35. The investigator was also rushed out by the Deonar staff who claimed that slaughter was ending, even though a long line of buffalos and bullocks was still waiting to be slaughtered in the lairage outside the slaughter hall and despite the 10 severely injured cattle lying on carts outside the slaughter hall also waiting to be relieved. During PETA's most recent investigations, buffaloes waiting in the lairage were not sprayed with water—a necessary procedure for reducing stress in cattle.

There is obviously no standard method of bringing the cattle to the floor. Sometimes the cattle's necks are twisted, other times they are roped and pulled down by two feet and yet other times by four, and sometimes the animals are simply slammed to the ground. The handling of the cattle prior to slaughter is illegal and extremely rough, especially when the animals can see other animals being slaughtered before them. This causes the cattle to experience fear and to balk.

No stunning took place and the cutting procedure varied from animal to animal. WSPA on its announced visit noted, "For the smallest animal, all carotid arteries and jugular veins were cut ... the second animal was not well cut the first time and a slaughterman cut again some 20 to 30 seconds later [prolonging the death]." PETA noted during its tour in December 2000, that a buffalo was shackled and hoisted prior to loss of consciousness.

Knives were not cleaned or sharpened after each animal, animals were not slaughtered facing Mecca, and there were other violations of religious law.

Sheep and Goats

A wooden lairage attached to the slaughter hall is in very poor condition. During PETA's announced visit in April, Dr Vishnupurikar claimed that renovation plans were being made. However, during PETA's most recent visit in December 2000, nothing had changed.

WSPA observed that the ramp up to the feeder chutes was too steep, a minimum angle of 45 degrees. The main handling passage was composed of rotted wooden slats. The final 'single file' raceway had a concrete floor and sides and was too wide. The width of the raceway allowed for sheep and goats were often doubled up at the top of the race. The men at the end of the race held and turned the animals. During this time, the animals could clearly see the animals before them being killed and hung. The animals' throats were then slit, their legs were shackled and the animals were hung upside down.

The knives used were not sharp and were not being sharpened or cleaned after each cut. Although time to loss of consciousness in sheep is on average 14 seconds when an adequate cut is made cutting both the carotid artery and jugular vein, many of the animals took over six times that amount of time. During the skinning and dressing of the carcasses, there was no knife-cleaning.

Pigs

PETA has only had the opportunity to observe pig slaughter during its announced visit with WSPA, HSA, and CLE. The condition of the animals was very poor, and there were several dead and injured animals in the pen. Pigs were moved in groups up a single file raceway and then held individually in an open sided pen ready for stunning. The pen allowed smaller pigs to hesitate and turn. The pigs waiting to be slaughtered could see their companions being hung before them.

The pigs were stunned across the head using tongs. However, Dr Vishnupurikar was unable to offer any information regarding current or voltage being used, an indication of total disregard and oversight.

Lack of Emergency Slaughter

It is evident that injured animals are not afforded emergency slaughter. There is no separate area for slaughter of injured cattle, sheep, goats or pigs; Dr Chavarkar and other staff, when questioned, did not even know the meaning of emergency slaughter; and injured animals are clearly left to struggle and suffer, strewn across the grounds. Dr Chavarkar confirmed this by telling PETA that injured animals are left at the market until they are purchased for slaughter or have died. During PETA's visit in December 2000, around 5 p.m. the investigator witnessed either diseased cattle or cattle who had been severely injured during transport being brought in on carts and left waiting outside the slaughter hall while health animals were being slaughtered. Since the last lorry arrives at the slaughterhouse at approximately 10 a.m., one can assume that these cattle had been waiting for at least seven hours, untreated and struggling with their disabilities, wounds and injuries. Dr Chavarkar explained that since these cattle were not technically dead, it was not against Muslim law to kill them for food, something that is not only false but also does not address the health consequence of eating infected, wounded and dying animals. Dr Vishnupurikar also contradicted his claim regarding emergency slaughter when he told PETA on December 14, 2000, that injured animals 'are given back to their owners [the traders] to be removed from the grounds.' It seems stories are just made up as the authorities see fit, and no efficient or humane procedures are in place.

NOTE: Other Indian export-level slaughterhouses have adequate emergency slaughter facilities.