Farmer's warning over illegal slaughter

3:28pm Monday 17th December 2007

Comments (26)   Have your say »

A FARMER has been appro-ached by "barbaric" men asking to buy and illegally slaughter lambs on his land as part of Eid celebrations.

Alan Davies, 58, of Pinfold Farm, Ribchester, alerted health officers after men came knocking at his door on two separate occasions.

Environmental health chiefs across East Lancashire have since sent out hundreds of letters to farms asking for people to remain vigilant and launched an operation aimed at cracking down on the "inhumane practice."

The slaughter of animals has always been part of Eid celebrations but there is an increasing trend for people to want to carry out the slaughter themselves rather than leave it to an expert.

Mr Davies, who has a sign outside his Preston Road farm saying "Lambs For Sale" said he was disgusted when he was approached by the men.

He said: "Two Asian men and a woman pulled up in a black cab and asked my wife Anne about the lambs for sale.

"They said they wanted between 30 to 40 lambs that they could slaughter on our land. We don't kill our own lambs and Anne told them it was against the law.

"On Sunday at 4pm two different Asian men came to the door saying they wanted live lambs to slaughter. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was gobsmacked because it's just so barbaric.

"We all have different cultures but what I don't understand is why there are people out there who will do this when there are plenty of properly trained halal slaughtermen out there who can do it following the correct procedures."

Eamonn Roberts, a senior environmental health officer for Ribble Valley Council, said: "Trained slaughtermen use very sharp knives but in the cases where it is being done illegally we have no way of knowing how the animals are being killed.

"They could be using blunt knives causing distress to the animals. There are also issues surrounding the disposal of the remains.

"There are various organs from the lambs that, if they are not disposed of properly, can lead to disease.

"Any meat produced in this way would not be certified fit for human consumption, which could cause health problems, and it does not meet any religious requirements."

Lancashire Council of Mosques chairman Hamid Quershi condemned the illegal slaughters and said letters would be issued in mosques warning people.

Animals must only be slaughtered on licensed premises and must be checked by a vet beforehand.

Anyone who has information about illegal slaughter can contact environmental health officers on 01254 222542.