Despite rigid controls by local veterinary authorities, and despite the plethora of EU Directives aimed to safeguard the dignity of farm animals when being slaughtered, some of the 394 local cattle farms still operate under atrocious conditions.

The attached photo is eloquent enough – it depicts mounds of refuse dumped on a cattle farm in Msida, with the inclusion of tyres and plastic, and even the odd cow (identified by an arrow in the photo).

You might be forgiven for thinking that the cow shown in the photo is a carcass, which is bad enough – however, the photo actually depicts a cow in its dead throes, chained to the ground and left for days on end to live out its final days in agony.

Animal welfare and veterinary hygiene standards must be upheld at all times on local farms – those in default, like the operator of the farm in question, should have their operating licence withheld, with the consequence that no dairy products or meat can be sold by the same operator till the set standards are met once again.

This is especially pressing against the backdrop of massive improvement locally in the conditions farm animals are kept, with many cattle farms investing in tent structures.

Alan Deidun

GUDJA