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.

As 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.

The 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.