ANIMALS’ ANGELS are invited to visit Naracoorte Saleyard which have approx 2000 pregnant cows for sale. The day is very hot at 43ºC and buyers are advised to leave animals in cool, soft floor pens until early evening when it is cooler for transport. Handling is calm and we observe that the facility does not use prodders, goads or dogs to move the animals however soft flappers are permitted during drafting. As one pregnant and heavy angus cow walked off the truck, she turned on the ramp and her back legs split. She fell and was unable to get up. The yard shot her without delay. She was not being goaded; unloading was quiet and animals are allowed to come off at their own rate. We are concerned that near term pregnant cows have been sent into saleyards. One cow has calved and although the management are not responsible for the arrival of a near term cow, they have taken positive welfare action for her and her baby. Both are placed together away from the other cattle to a pen with a clean soft floor. We check her later that day and she is snuggled to her calf.
