(Host) The Humane Society of the United States accuses a federal inspector of condoning alleged animal abuse at a Grand Isle slaughterhouse that was shut down last week.
While an investigation continues, state agriculture officials are trying to determine how the shutdown will affect Vermont dairy farmers.
VPR’s John Dillon has more:
(Dillon) The Humane Society of the United States released more graphic video this week that was shot with a hidden camera inside Bushway’s Packing Plant at Grand Isle.
The video shows calves being kicked, shocked with cattle prods and slaughtered while they are still conscious – allegedly in violation of federal law.
Michael Markarian is chief operating officer of the Humane Society of the United States. He says the video was taken by an undercover investigator who worked this summer as a floor cleaner at the slaughterhouse.
Markarian describes footage that shows a worker beginning to process a calf while the animal is still conscious.
(Markarian) "The USDA inspector in our video indicates that if another inspector were to see what you’re doing, he would shut the plant down. So I think there are some very dedicated and committed USDA inspectors, but it does appear that this particular inspector had a cozy relationship with the plant owners and workers."
(Dillon) The Humane Society of the United States said it targeted the Grand isle plant after receiving a tip about alleged mistreatment.
Markarian said federal law requires that animals be rendered insensitive to pain before they are slaughtered.
(Markarian) This is animal abuse of the most sickening kind and it should not be tolerated at any federally inspected slaughter plant.
(Dillon) Officials at the slaughterhouse said the company could not comment, based on advice from its attorney.
The Bushway’s plant processed young male calves that are routinely culled from dairy farms a day or two after they are born. There are eight slaughterhouses in Vermont. And farmers have voiced concerns for years that there are not enough facilities to handle all the slaughtering needs.
The state Agency of Agriculture wants to find out what the Bushway shutdown means for Vermont farms. Diane Bothfeld is deputy agriculture secretary.
(Bothfeld) "We’re trying to collect that information from folks in Vermont that may be affected by this closure."
(Dillon) Federal and state officials suspended operations at the plant last week after reviewing the videotape.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said his agency has launched a criminal investigation. Vilsack said in a statement that the behavior of the federal inspector and slaughterhouse personnel depicted in the video was- quote – "inexcusable."
For VPR News, I’m John Dillon in Montpelier.