Claims of abuse at wool farms probed

The Scottish SPCA is investigating claims of abuse at wool farms across Scotland.

Horrific footage has been released, showing what appears to be workers “punching, stamping and beating” animals at 24 sheep farms.

Animal rights group Peta Asia has launched a formal complaint with the Scottish SPCA.

The alleged abuse happened on farms in West Lothian, Fife, the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lothian, Midlothian and South Lanarkshire.

The 12-page complaint includes claims of wool workers “striking terrified sheep in the face with electric clippers, slamming their heads into the floor, beating

“Everywhere they see the samedisturbing behaviour”

and kicking them, and throwing them off shearing trailers”.

Peta said footage obtained by an eyewitness highlights “just some of the cruelty” at 24 sheep farms toured by shearers from a shearing contractor earlier this year.

The group is calling for criminal charges to be filed against the culprits where appropriate.

Peta Asia’s senior vicepresident, Jason Baker, said: “Everywhere that eyewitnesses from Peta Asia and its affiliates go – from Australia and the US to South America and now the United Kingdom – they see the same disturbing behaviour.

“The production of all wool – no matter where it originated or what ‘ethical’ or ‘responsibly sourced’ claims are made on its label – spells extreme suffering and death for millions of gentle sheep and lambs.”

Peta says shearers are paid by volume, not by the hour, which encourages fast, violent handling.