New film shows - for first time - killing of fur farmed mink in Ireland

Monday, December 12, 2005

Respect for Animals today releases dramatic new footage showing - for the first time - the process of mink being slaughtered for their fur - on a farm in the constituency of the Agriculture Minister, Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West).

The film raises serious questions about the method being used to kill the mink and the monitoring of fur farms at the time of slaughter. Ms Coughlan and the Chief Vet have both been asked to comment on the footage.

The film will be first shown at a press conference at Buswells Hotel, Molesworth Street, Dublin at 11am, attended by TD’s Dan Boyle and Dr Mary Upton, both of whom campaigned earlier this year for a ban on fur farming in Ireland. A bill to ban fur farming was defeated in March, largely due to the efforts of Agriculture minister Mary Coughlan.

Respect for Animals believes that the public, the majority of whom are supportive of a ban on fur farming in Ireland*, will be shocked by this footage.

Taken in November, the film shows rows of wire mesh cages holding hundreds of mink; a twenty-three minute sequence shows animals being put into a ‘killing box’, a box designed to gas the animals, a common method of killing mink, used by many mink farmers. The film clearly shows mink being pulled out of their cages, squirming and, in some cases, trying to cling on to the cage-edge; they are then held by their rear-ends or tails, and swung through the air, before being put in the box, which is attached to an engine.

Once scores of animals are in the box, an operator starts the engine, by way of a pull cord; yet more mink are added to the box whilst the engine is running. Respect for Animals believes that by the time the process was completed, the box contained eighty-six animals.

Mark Glover, Director, Respect for Animals says: ‘The film raises concerns for me about why the engine was started whilst animals were being put into the box. I have supplied the film to both the Minister and the Chief Vet, and have asked for them to confirm: was the appropriate concentration of gas (at least 1% by volume of carbon monoxide or the highest possible concentration of carbon dioxide) already in the chamber before the animals were introduced, as the regulations require?’.**

During the debate on a Private Members Bill to ban fur farming, in March this year, the Department confirmed that all farms issued with permits complied with the relevant European and national legislation. Gassing, by both carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, is allowed under the legislation as long as regulations are met**.

Answering Parliamentary Questions*** earlier this month, the Minister advised that:

The total cost of on-farm inspections cost Euro 6,689 in 2004 and Euro 6859 to date in 2005.
That each mink fur farm (of which there are six) paid an annual fee for a permit of Euro 350.
Regulations do not require for a person carrying out on-farm slaughter to be formally trained.
Dr Mary Upton, TD says: ‘The Labour Party is calling for the abolition of fur farming in Ireland, at the earliest possible opportunity’.

Notes For Editors:

* An opinion poll, conducted in October 2004 showed that 64% of the people in Ireland thought that fur factory farming should be banned.

** For details of the legislation relating to the killing of animals killed for their fur, see attached information sheet

*** For a full list of recent Parliamentary Questions and Written Answers, see the attached information sheet.

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