Ultra Cruel: The Ultra-Fine Wool Industry.
Ultra-Fine wool growing is an intensive animal industry in Australia. Specially-bred sheep are kept indoors in individual small pens 24 hours a day for four or five years. Nylon coats are worn by the 'shedded' sheep to further ensure that dust and dirt does not enter their fleece, and, like every other intensive animal industry, the behavioural and social needs of the sheep are completely ignored.
Concerns were raised with the Victorian Government Animal Welfare Advisory Committee resulting in a request for committee members to attend the facilities to observe the sheep. This was denied. A request from the Department of Primary Industries to install cameras in the facilities to monitor the behaviour of the sheep has also been denied.
R.SP.C.A. President Dr. Wirth said "This is the first time any industry under pressure has ever refused to be open about what is going on and allow proper examination of the facts."A welfare assessment of this intensive system is yet to be undertaken.
Suggestions that these animals are 'better off' living in such confinement%u2014as they are sheltered and have a daily food source%u2014is a desperate defence from those who know they are denying these animals every behavioural need that provides any enrichment in their lives, on the basis of profit.
The impacts of chronic stress caused by an inappropriate environment were obvious in a video taken by Animals Australia.
The confined sheep continually chewed on the wooden slats and strands of wire which enclosed them. Repetitive body movements were also observed%u2014classic stereotypic behaviours, caused by a barren environment, combined with the inability to exercise, or to perform simple natural behaviours such as graze on grass.
We cannot allow this "battery sheep" Industry to flourish..
The sheep Code of Practice states that animals that are unable to adapt to the indoor confinement should be returned to grazing. Clearly from the evidence gathered, this is not occurring. If operators are not complying with the Code of Practice they can be prosecuted for cruelty under state animal welfare laws.
Therefore we the undersigned request the Victorian Government to ensure that inspections of these facilities be undertaken and operators who are not complying be prosecuted for animal cruelty, and the sheep be returned to a more natural environment where their social and behavioural needs can be met.
Ultra-Fine wool growing is an intensive animal industry in Australia. Specially-bred sheep are kept indoors in individual small pens 24 hours a day for four or five years. Nylon coats are worn by the 'shedded' sheep to further ensure that dust and dirt does not enter their fleece, and, like every other intensive animal industry, the behavioural and social needs of the sheep are completely ignored.
Concerns were raised with the Victorian Government Animal Welfare Advisory Committee resulting in a request for committee members to attend the facilities to observe the sheep. This was denied. A request from the Department of Primary Industries to install cameras in the facilities to monitor the behaviour of the sheep has also been denied.
R.SP.C.A. President Dr. Wirth said "This is the first time any industry under pressure has ever refused to be open about what is going on and allow proper examination of the facts."A welfare assessment of this intensive system is yet to be undertaken.
Suggestions that these animals are 'better off' living in such confinement%u2014as they are sheltered and have a daily food source%u2014is a desperate defence from those who know they are denying these animals every behavioural need that provides any enrichment in their lives, on the basis of profit.
The impacts of chronic stress caused by an inappropriate environment were obvious in a video taken by Animals Australia.
The confined sheep continually chewed on the wooden slats and strands of wire which enclosed them. Repetitive body movements were also observed%u2014classic stereotypic behaviours, caused by a barren environment, combined with the inability to exercise, or to perform simple natural behaviours such as graze on grass.
We cannot allow this "battery sheep" Industry to flourish..
The sheep Code of Practice states that animals that are unable to adapt to the indoor confinement should be returned to grazing. Clearly from the evidence gathered, this is not occurring. If operators are not complying with the Code of Practice they can be prosecuted for cruelty under state animal welfare laws.
Therefore we the undersigned request the Victorian Government to ensure that inspections of these facilities be undertaken and operators who are not complying be prosecuted for animal cruelty, and the sheep be returned to a more natural environment where their social and behavioural needs can be met.
They are fed a minimal diet and confined to protect their fleeces in order to produce the finest micron wool, which often fetches record prices from high-end fashion designers in Europe, particularly Italy.
Concerns were raised with the Victorian Government Animal Welfare Advisory Committee resulting in a request for committee members to attend the facilities to observe the sheep. This was denied. A request from the Department of Primary Industries to install cameras in the facilities to monitor the behaviour of the sheep has also been denied.
R.SP.C.A. President Dr. Wirth said "This is the first time any industry under pressure has ever refused to be open about what is going on and allow proper examination of the facts."A welfare assessment of this intensive system is yet to be undertaken.
Suggestions that these animals are 'better off' living in such confinement%u2014as they are sheltered and have a daily food source%u2014is a desperate defence from those who know they are denying these animals every behavioural need that provides any enrichment in their lives, on the basis of profit.
The impacts of chronic stress caused by an inappropriate environment were obvious in a video taken by Animals Australia.
See Video: http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=hKBVE4Ic3Dc
The confined sheep continually chewed on the wooden slats and strands of wire which enclosed them. Repetitive body movements were also observed%u2014classic stereotypic behaviours, caused by a barren environment, combined with the inability to exercise, or to perform simple natural behaviours such as graze on grass.
We cannot allow this "battery sheep" Industry to flourish..
The sheep Code of Practice states that animals that are unable to adapt to the indoor confinement should be returned to grazing. Clearly from the evidence gathered, this is not occurring. If operators are not complying with the Code of Practice they can be prosecuted for cruelty under state animal welfare laws.
Therefore we the undersigned request the Victorian Government to ensure that inspections of these facilities be undertaken and operators who are not complying be prosecuted for animal cruelty, and the sheep be returned to a more natural environment where their social and behavioural needs can be met.
This need to be stopped its degusting. These people are very greedy. All creatures have the right to be able to behave naturally in the environment that is right for them.
Battery farming is degusting. i have done research on battery farming and it sickens me. How can people be so cruel. We should lock these people up in small cages and see how they react.
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5:51 pm PDT, Apr 18,
Leigh Bennett, Georgia
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THIS CRUEL TREATMENT TOWARDS THESE INNOCENT ANIMALS MUST BE STOPPED!
sad
i totaly agree with Fancy Macdonald
THis issue is vital and valid that the behavioural of these animals exemplify abberation in their movement due to undue stress. There a great need to put these animals back to their natural environ,. It is heart wrenching to see these animals in such limited space with no grass to even roam on. What cruelty to these animals.
It is utterly disturbing and offensive to see these animal in this confinement for the profits of those designers in Europe.Not to mention those who directly responsible for the cruelty to the sheep. They should be prosecuted for not complying with the code of practice for animal welfare. The minister of industry and agriculture Mr Joe Helper - please after seeing the clip, it's quite evident that the animala are showing abberant behav. due to lack of space and other deficiencies. Please sir, would kindly use your exercutive office to amend this serious problem facing these defenseless animals who are at your mercy for HELP.
this is sick just for there wool just to make a profit this needs to be stopped this is so cruel
anyone doing this to an animal should have the same done to him/her
Please be kind to these helpless, innocent animals. All of us need humane treatment. We won't buy wool, now that we know - until you improve things. To help your own industries stay in business, and to keep your tourism, please be humane to your sheep and give them good living conditions. Thank You
to give them better rights.
cruel.
Please stop this form of solitary confinement and torture.
