The international organization Animal Equality presented a shocking investigation and complaint for mistreatment and animal cruelty in slaughterhouses in the province of Buenos Aires.
The report, titled “Argentinian Meat: an investigation in Buenos Aires slaughterhouses,” documents serious systematic infractions and violence against cows and pigs, revealing the lack of control in the meat industry.
International complaint for mistreatment in slaughterhouses: what does the report say
Carried out in November and December 2024 with the photojournalist Aitor Garmendia, the investigation focused on the Vidal S.A. and Santa Giulia slaughterhouses. Their findings reveal practices that violate Law No. 18.819, aimed at protecting animal welfare during slaughter.
Animal Equality’s investigation documented various violations of current regulations. This aims to highlight a pattern of unnecessary animal suffering. Among the main points, they revealed:
- Use of sledgehammers: they detailed the use of sledgehammers to stun cows, a practice explicitly prohibited by Argentine legislation. This was documented even with already hanging or dying animals.
- Inadequate stunning: Animal Equality’s teams accused the inappropriate use of tools to stun the animals, such as a cow being struck up to four times. Regulations require individual procedures, but simultaneous stunning of two animals was documented.
- Electric prods on pigs: they denounced the excessive use of electric prods on pigs, even in sensitive areas, directly contravening the guidelines of the National Service for Agri-Food Health and Quality (Senasa).
- Lack of oversight: the absence of official inspections allows practices like hitting, shouting, and pushing animals to go unpunished, revealing the weakness of the current regulatory framework.
Formal complaint to Senasa
Following the investigation, the organization filed a formal complaint with Senasa, which is evaluating the evidence. Activist and actor Kiki Petrone lent his voice to the investigation video, narrating what was documented in these slaughterhouses in the country.
The study also addresses the consequences of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Mercosur. Between January and November 2024, Argentina exported 1570 tons of meat to Spain, 31.7% more than the previous year.
According to the report prepared by Animal Equality in collaboration with Eurogroup for Animals, this agreement could exacerbate the situation of animal welfare.
It is estimated that the export of cows and calves would increase by 20%, and that of chickens by 250%. This would mean that billions of additional animals would be exposed to these cruel practices each year.
A call to action
This investigation in Argentina adds to the more than 180 conducted by the organization globally, demonstrating that animal mistreatment in the meat industry is a global reality.
Dulce Ramírez, vice president of Animal Equality for Latin America, emphasized: “Our goal is to highlight a reality that is repeated in all slaughterhouses: animals are treated as mere commodities.”
