Holding Sheep At Abattoir

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31586, 25 January 1968, Page 10

Holding Sheep At Abattoir

Sir, —I would like to know who is responsible for. the paddocking of sheep in the holding paddocks, of stone and clay, at the abattoirs at Soekburn every week-end. It is a disgrace to the city and very upsetting for people living nearby to watch these poor beasts grovelling among stones for a blade of grass. I presume those responsible are living on the best, while these animals suffer their last few days on earth in agony.—Yours, etc., ANIMAL LOVER. January 15, 1968. [Mr J. H. Sproston, managing director of the Christchurch city abattoir replies: “It would be very stupid on the part of the owner of stock or the abattoir administration to hold stock at the city abattoir longer than was absolutely necessary before killing It is well known that stock loses weight rapidly under such circumstances and this would be a loss to the owner of the stock. Furthermore, stock is not held at the city abattoir over week-ends without being fed. The fact that stock are wandering over bare ground does not indicate that they have not been fed. Any retail butcher will inform your correspondent that he is charged for the feeding of his stock over the week-end. and I can assure ‘Animal Lover’ that this feeding does, indeed, take place. The animals are also well watered.”]