Early Animal Rights Film: Slaughter House (1930-1939)

WARNING: this is a very disturbing film. You will need a strong stomach! Produced by the Council of Justice to Animals and Humane Slaughter Association, 42 Old Bond Street, London W1. Long title describes how the movement of animals after they have been made unconscious should not be taken to indicate pain. “So long as the animal has been rendered unconscious before being stuck with a knife it cannot feel.“ The aim of the Humane Slaughter movement is to ensure that every animal killed for food is rendered unconscious by means of a mechanical killer before it has a knife plunged into its body. First extract shows a pig being made unconscious before being “stuck“ with a knife. Three men in overalls hoist the pig up on a hook and then make a slit in its neck with a knife. The pig seems to struggle violently and eventually is still after a few twitches. Second extract shows a pig being stuck with a knife while on its feet and fully conscious. Two men hold the pig wh