THE Barkly Pearl, laden with 3500 bleating, mooing and defecating sheep, goats and steers pulled out of East London port and headed into storm swell at sunrise yesterday.
The second load of Eastern Cape livestock in three weeks was bound for slaughter in Mauritius.
While the National SPCA said it saw sheep being pulled aboard the ship by the ears and legs, Glen Page, CEO of the Page Farming Trust said: “I did not sheep or goats’ ears being pulled.”
Andries Venter, manager of the NSPCA’s farm animal protection unit, said: “We witnessed foreign workers dragging sheep by their forelegs and ears. At this stage, we were on the docks and only able to address with the exporter.”
NSPCA director Marcelle Meredith said they were talking to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which has a legal duty to prevent cruelty to animals.
The NSPCA’s attorney, Michal Johnson said: “We will probably be involved in future litigation with all interested parties, including the government, to ensure there is no cruelty to animals and practices of inhuman and cruel treatment are addressed in terms of international and national legislation.”
But Page said: “Yesterday’s loading was done professionally and seamlessly. At no stage were animals subjected to cruelty.
“This transaction is part of our normal business as any farmer would transact in the marketing of his animals. I don’t feel this is a moral issue, but an honourable business transaction.
“The NSPCA acted in bad faith and in an uncoordinated manner. The courts proved as such. The Page Farming Trust will continue to breed and trade in cattle in an ethical and humane manner as we have done for generations.”
Venter said the Pages would only allow NSPCA personnel on board the vessel before and after loading.
“Numerous attempts to make contact with the ship owner’s representative in South Africa, to obtain full access, were thwarted.
“This was unacceptable, so we obtained a warrant to monitor the loading of the animals to ensure it was done in a humane and ethical fashion. A security company hired to stand at the entrance to the ship did not accept the warrant.
“Police and port authorities had to be called.”
NSPCA ‘sheep ear pulling’ claim denied
The second load of Eastern Cape livestock in three weeks was bound for slaughter in Mauritius.
While the National SPCA said it saw sheep being pulled aboard the ship by the ears and legs, Glen Page, CEO of the Page Farming Trust said: “I did not sheep or goats’ ears being pulled.”
Andries Venter, manager of the NSPCA’s farm animal protection unit, said: “We witnessed foreign workers dragging sheep by their forelegs and ears. At this stage, we were on the docks and only able to address with the exporter.”
NSPCA director Marcelle Meredith said they were talking to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which has a legal duty to prevent cruelty to animals.
The NSPCA’s attorney, Michal Johnson said: “We will probably be involved in future litigation with all interested parties, including the government, to ensure there is no cruelty to animals and practices of inhuman and cruel treatment are addressed in terms of international and national legislation.”
But Page said: “Yesterday’s loading was done professionally and seamlessly. At no stage were animals subjected to cruelty.
“This transaction is part of our normal business as any farmer would transact in the marketing of his animals. I don’t feel this is a moral issue, but an honourable business transaction.
“The NSPCA acted in bad faith and in an uncoordinated manner. The courts proved as such. The Page Farming Trust will continue to breed and trade in cattle in an ethical and humane manner as we have done for generations.”
Venter said the Pages would only allow NSPCA personnel on board the vessel before and after loading.
“Numerous attempts to make contact with the ship owner’s representative in South Africa, to obtain full access, were thwarted.
“This was unacceptable, so we obtained a warrant to monitor the loading of the animals to ensure it was done in a humane and ethical fashion. A security company hired to stand at the entrance to the ship did not accept the warrant.
“Police and port authorities had to be called.”
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