There has been a recent exposure of appalling cruelty by sheep shearers during the shearing of sheep in Australia. Sheep were punched, kicked, thrown on the floor, stamped on, hit with electric shears and thrown down a chute. The article is here:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/ju...estigation
You do not have to click on the video, unless you choose to do so, on the page. You can read the text without clicking, if you are easily upset. The article deserves to be read, however. The video is unpleasant to watch, but it is only by such material being made public that anything will be done.
Now for the amazing part! Barnaby Joyce, the federal agriculture minister, instead of condemning what went on and vowing to prosecute, was more interested in finding out how the video was taken and whether the people committing the cruel acts had given their permission for filming! Apparently he is in favour of "Ag Gag" - meaning it should be illegal to film cruelty without permission. The Victorian government has, apparently, already made it illegal for "whistle blowers" to film cruelty. I would give them a medal for bravery!
I had a flock of sheep for many years and we always did the shearing ourselves, without rushing. The sheep knew us, and we knew them. Even a superficial cut was extremely rare and was treated immediately. The shearing was done merely for their own comfort, to avoid them getting overheated in the summer.
The trouble is, sheep have a low commercial value so they are regarded as expendible, even by the farmers. Above all, welfare is not important to shearers, as they are paid by productivity, not per hour. That makes them rush at a crazy pace, punching, kicking, etc. An appalling situation.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/ju...estigation
You do not have to click on the video, unless you choose to do so, on the page. You can read the text without clicking, if you are easily upset. The article deserves to be read, however. The video is unpleasant to watch, but it is only by such material being made public that anything will be done.
Now for the amazing part! Barnaby Joyce, the federal agriculture minister, instead of condemning what went on and vowing to prosecute, was more interested in finding out how the video was taken and whether the people committing the cruel acts had given their permission for filming! Apparently he is in favour of "Ag Gag" - meaning it should be illegal to film cruelty without permission. The Victorian government has, apparently, already made it illegal for "whistle blowers" to film cruelty. I would give them a medal for bravery!
I had a flock of sheep for many years and we always did the shearing ourselves, without rushing. The sheep knew us, and we knew them. Even a superficial cut was extremely rare and was treated immediately. The shearing was done merely for their own comfort, to avoid them getting overheated in the summer.
The trouble is, sheep have a low commercial value so they are regarded as expendible, even by the farmers. Above all, welfare is not important to shearers, as they are paid by productivity, not per hour. That makes them rush at a crazy pace, punching, kicking, etc. An appalling situation.
