German slaughterhouse owner on trial accused of abusing animals

The owner of a German slaughterhouse charged with 45 counts of animal cruelty went on trial on Wednesday, over accusations of having abused sick cows and deprived them of feed and water.

Proceedings against the man were initially launched last year over 11 suspected offences against the Animal Welfare Act, but they were later suspended as prosecutors added a further 34 charges, according to a spokeswoman for the Lünen district court.

Prosecutors accuse the man of having beaten sick and unfit cows at a cattle round-up station near the city of Unna in western Germany.

He is also said to have failed to provide the animals with sufficient feed and water.

In one instance, a cow that was unable to walk was allegedly dragged across the floor by a machine.

According to the indictment, a cow that perished on the premises of the facility was later sold as meat.

An inadmissible amount of blood was also said to have been taken from the animals.

Investigators were alerted to the slaughterhouse in 2021 due to video recordings made by animal rights organization Soko Tierschutz.

Reports made by the activists of systematic abuse at the facility led authorities to close down the cattle round-up station.

Two employees of the slaughterhouse were handed suspended sentences in early 2024 for several offences against the Animal Welfare Act.

A spokeswoman for the Lünen district court said they have been summoned as witnesses in the owner's trial, alongside an employee from a veterinary office.