February 4 Letter: A glimpse into workings of a slaughterhouse
THE picture of the inquisitive pig on the front cover of Country Week (The Yorkshire Post, January 17) was evocative. It recalled to mind an experience I had last summer.
I was attending an auction at Hartleys in Ilkley, and parked my car on Little Lane.
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Hide AdAs I got out, I heard a high-pitched screeching sound, like grinding machinery.
Standing over six feet tall, I was able to peer over the high wall.
I saw a pig being driven through the perspex flaps of a door, into the rear of a building.It was the local slaughterhouse. The slaughterman was doing nothing amiss, but the screeching pig was clearly terrified.
After attending the auction, I returned to my car and once again peered over the wall.
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Hide AdThe slaughterman was taking a break, at the front of the building.
A small herd of pigs huddled against a barrier, at the rear.
They were silent and still.
One pig was particularly traumatised: its head was bowed; its eyes, half-closed.
It seemed to sense its fate.
Pigs are gregarious; and scientific research has shown that pigs are intelligent as dogs.