Cows Slaughtered Without Stunning: Measures Ordered to Address Shortcomings at Bigard Slaughterhouse in Venarey-les-Laumes

Cows Slaughtered Without Stunning in Bigard Slaughterhouse in Venarey-les-Laumes: Measures Ordered to Address Shortcomings

After the broadcast of shocking images of animal abuse within the Bigard slaughterhouse in Venarey-les-Laumes (Côte-d’Or), the authorities noted certain shortcomings during inspections. The establishment has been instructed to take corrective actions as per the directive issued on Thursday, April 18.

The disturbing images that surfaced on April 10 depicted employees at the Bigard slaughterhouse in Venarey-les-Laumes (Côte-d’Or) behaving cruelly towards the animals. As a result, an investigation was launched by the prefecture on April 15 and 16.

According to state services, while no operating anomalies were observed during the inspection, deficiencies were identified regarding the security of the ritual slaughter process. Consequently, the establishment has been given a 15-day deadline to address these shortcomings.

In the meantime, the slaughter rate has been reduced pending the necessary corrections, as announced by the prefecture of Côte-d’Or in a press release on April 18, 2024.

Despite calls by L214, the authorization for ritual slaughter – without stunning the animals – has not been revoked from the establishment. However, the prefecture has made it clear that it could be withdrawn if the directives outlined in the formal notice are not adhered to.

L214 had previously lodged a complaint with the public prosecutor of Dijon (Côte-d’Or) citing “serious abuse and acts of cruelty”, including unauthorized stings, violent treatment of animals, and incompetence among the staff.

This case of abuse adds to a series of incidents in the region, with previous instances reported at a goat farm in Saint-Pierre-le-Vieux (Saône-et-Loire) in June 2023, and at the goat farm Thierry Chevenet in Saint-Maurice-de-Satonnay, also in Saône-et-Loire, a few months prior.