PETA has urged New Zealand’s government to install livestreaming cameras in shearing sheds after releasing an investigation alleging sheep mistreatment, including physical abuse by shearers.
The organisation claims that webcams will ensure transparency and accountability.
However, the proposal has faced strong opposition from Federated Farmers, who argue it is an overreach, pointing to New Zealand’s high animal welfare standards and the impracticality of implementing cameras in thousands of sheds.
Industry experts and officials have criticised the idea as costly, lacking common sense, and an invasion of privacy. The Ministry for Primary Industries is investigating the allegations, which include footage dating back to 2023.
Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard said he would not recommend the use of CCTV inside farms.
”That would be a gross breach of privacy for our nation’s farming families, and a complete government overreach,” he told legacy media.
Daily Telegraph New Zealand (DTNZ) is an independent news website, first published in October 2021. - where this article was sourced.
Industry experts and officials have criticised the idea as costly, lacking common sense, and an invasion of privacy. The Ministry for Primary Industries is investigating the allegations, which include footage dating back to 2023.
Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard said he would not recommend the use of CCTV inside farms.
”That would be a gross breach of privacy for our nation’s farming families, and a complete government overreach,” he told legacy media.
Daily Telegraph New Zealand (DTNZ) is an independent news website, first published in October 2021. - where this article was sourced.
6 comments:
I have made my views known in a letter to the Post on 7 January. Suffice to say that PETA is highly selective in its so-called 'facts', and ignores the thousands of sheep that are treated humanely. Also, shearing is not only necessary for sheep for physiological (reducing heat stress) and other health reasons (parasite and bacterial contamination) but important to NZ's economy. PETA would be better employed looking at human abuse issues and let us get on with what is arguably the most efficient livestock production system anywhere.
New Zealands high animal welfare standards? Are Federated Farmers serious?
Between August and mid-September, over 70,000 lambs died in Southland, with 25,000 of those deaths occurring in one week. These numbers are likely only a fraction of the total number of deaths for the season. I would hate to see the death rate, if we didn't have such " high animal welfare standards."
Anonymous @11.34. You don't seriously think this is all down to poor animal welfare standards? Don't you think the weather might have a part to play and if you can think of a way to keep millions of sheep indoors then you've missed your vocation. Anyway, where do you get your figures from? PETA?
Alan, figures from the The Farmers Weekly, so probably are abit light. https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/news/lambs-perish-as-southland-wet-bites/ The law requires that animals are provided shelter, correct me if I'm wrong but lambs are animals and deserve to be treated properly, in line with animal welfare legislation. The sooner a farmer is prosecuted for their total disrespect and disregard for the requirements the better.
To put things into perspective; if 100 000 sheep died throughout NZ in 2024, that is 0.42% of the total sheep population of 24 million. In the same period, 37500 humans died in NZ, 0.68% of a 5.5 million population. In other words, on a proportional population basis twice as many humans as sheep died. Where can relative values be assigned here? Sheep cannot be protected from the weather. To crowd them into sheds with dry feed is itself wrong for a naturally grazing animal. Furthermore, you may as well blame the weather for sheep deaths, because it is that factor, not uncaring farmers that is the problem. A sense of logic, realism and proportion helps in matters such as these.
Just to finish up Alan. I've scoured the legislation, it doesn't seem to differentiate between animals species.100000 cats, 100000 cows, imagine 100000 dogs suffering the same plight?
Cruel.
Thats why I won't buy your sheep meat, the US doesn't buy it for a different reason. Probably the gamey, stressed taste it has?
As for the wool no one wants that either.
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