A video from a slaughterhouse in Luxembourg which shows a cow being killed without being anaesthetised has led to uproar after going viral.

The video, which was filmed using a smartphone, features a cow being slaughtered at a farm in Ettelbruck. 

Animal rights activists have slammed the footage showing the cow being brutally butchered in the horrific video, as they say the cow would have suffered immensely from the process.

The video was displayed on a local news investigation into the incident. It shows a cow hanging upside down in a room which has blood smeared across the floor and walls. 

The cow is seen writhing around while hanging in the air as a worker grapples with the animal and slits its throat while the animal continues to writhe around. The worker is then seen turning to the camera and appears to celebrate the killing by raising the slaughter weapon. 

Watch the video here.

Welfare organisations said the slaughterhouse was in breach of animal protection laws. 

Manager at the slaughterhouse Claude Graff admitted to RFL Today that the footage was filmed at the slaughterhouse, and said the footage had shocked even him. 

“There are no ethics, no respect for the animal shown. That employee no longer works here,” he conceded. 

The farm said employees are trained to respect animals and ensure their well-being up until their death.

The slaughterhouse said the footage was filmed three years ago, but that it had resurfaced after being reshared widely online. 

The slaughterhouse has since reviewed its training policies and has installed CCTV footage, the slaughterhouse explained. Employees are told to stun animals before slaughter to minimise suffering.  

• Read: USDA sued for increasing slaughterhouse kill speeds to 175 chickens per minute

Share this article to reveal the reality behind the meat industry.

Oli Gross

Oli’s career and personal ethical values both help shape his reporting of the diverse world of veganism. His background is in local newspaper and magazine journalism, and his work has included reporting court cases, celebrity interviews, business analysis, food and drink features and government legislation.

See author's posts