Second piggery visited over cruelty claims

10 Aug 2012, 1:13 pm   -   Source: AAP

Investigations into animal cruelty continue, following the release of video footage showing buckets of dead piglets.

A second NSW piggery has been inspected during ongoing investigations into animal cruelty.

Last week animal rights charity Animal Liberation leaked footage which it said showed buckets of dead piglets, a sledge hammer used to bludgeon pigs, and sows with open sores at a piggery at Murrumbateman.

Authorities subsequently investigated the piggery and issued the owner with an order to improve conditions.

On Friday government animal welfare workers and representatives from the RSPCA and Livestock Health and Pest Authority said they had visited another piggery in Young, which they say is linked to the Murrumbateman business.

"RSPCA NSW is continuing to review video footage of the alleged mistreatment of pigs and investigations are ongoing," the Department of Primary Industries said in a statement.

Animal Liberation last year released footage of animals being mistreated at Hawkesbury Valley Meat Processors, in Sydney's northwest, prompting the government to shut the facility down and launch reforms to safeguard animal welfare in the state.

From July 1 next year, it will be compulsory for NSW abattoirs to have animal welfare officers monitor and take responsibility for the wellbeing of animals.

The government said a number of improvements had already been by the owner of the Murrumbateman piggery.

It was being monitored to ensure humane treatment of the animals.

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