Secret footage filmed by Animal Aid shows sheep being beaten, kicked and punched.

Secret footage reveals shocking mistreatment of sheep

Three people have had their operating licences suspended and one man has been sacked at a slaughterhouse in North Yorkshire following a covert operation to capture the alleged mistreatment of animals.

In secret footage filmed by Animal Aid, sheep are shown to be beaten, kicked and punched inside Bowood Farms Ltd in Yorkshire.

Filmed in December, the film also shows slaughter men hacking away at the throats of still-conscious sheep.

Animal aid say that neither the government appointed on-site vets, nor the slaughterhouse operators detected a single illegal act that was filmed.

The Food Standards Agency have now launched an investigation into the footage with a view to prosecution.

In a statement, the FSA says that it takes animal welfare at abattoirs "very seriously" which is why they have immediately suspended the licences of the slaughter men involved.

Bowood is one of nine slaughterhouses in the UK which have been filmed undercover since January 2009. The establishment is licensed to kill animals using halal practice, where animals are supposed to be killed quickly with a single sweep of a surgically-sharp knife. The animal should not see the knife before they are slaughtered or see the death of any other animal.

UK law insists abattoirs must stun animals before slaughter to prevent unnecessary suffering, but Jewish and Muslim producers are exempt from this.

The revelations have been strongly condemned by the Muslim Council who said they are "appalled" at reports of animal mistreatment at the abattoir following the principles of halal methods of slaughter.

A spokesperson said: "Animal cruelty is wrong and criminal wherever it may occur. That it is being carried out in halal slaughter makes it even more incredulous. Animal welfare should be observed by all slaughterhouses.

"The findings certainly are abhorrent in Islamic practice, and the abattoir must be subject to the full force of the law."

Animal Aid's investigation found that eight of the nine slaughterhouses they filmed broke animal welfare laws - two of which were organic and one Freedom Food.

The charity is now calling for independently monitored CCTV cameras to deter welfare abuse and has launched a petition in the hope that it will be considered for debate in the House of Commons.

Image (C) Animal Aid