Animals’ Angels visit the Gunnedah saleyard for the first time. Approximately 2.095 cattle and calves are for sale. The floor is soft and each pen has a water trough, however there is no overhead shade structure to protect the cattle from the high temperatures NSW has been enduring.
Today, the cattle stand in 37 °C heat. Although the density of cattle in the sale pens appears to meet the requirements of the Saleyard Welfare Standards, the pens with more animals could be of concern if they were in pens overnight. The striking of some cattle with what we believe was considerable force by some handlers was arguably unacceptable. If cattle are moving there is no need to strike the animals at all.
These concerns will be reflected in our report.
