RSPCAprobes herd shooting
RSPCAprobes herd shooting
THE RSPCA is investigating the slaughter of 80 cattle on a foot-and-mouth infected farm at Knowstone in north Devon after the killing deteriorated into what eye-witnesses described as a sickening pheasant shoot.
Slaughtering started on Sunday but about 20 cattle escaped onto neighbours fields. It was Tuesday afternoon before the last escapee was found and shot.
Some of cattle were still lying in neighbours fields on Wednesday without guards or warning signs. The main incident occurred when the slaughter team went into a field of young Limousins and started shooting them without penning them up or tranquilising them. About 17 broke through into a neighbours field.
Escaped cattle were huddling terrified under the hedge in full view from the village while marksmen tried to shoot them. Some escaped again. *
An RSPCA HQ spokeswoman said "We are looking into it. It is an ongoing investigation and so we cannot comment at the moment. Very serious allegations have been made." *