§ Lord Northfieldasked her Majesty's Government:
How many commercial abattoirs in England and Wales and in Scotland slaughter deer; how many, and of what species of deer were sent to them in 1990 and 1991, and what special welfare safeguards are in operation.
42WA
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)In England and Wales over the last two years no deer have been slaughtered in EC approved abattoirs. Domestic abattoirs which are not EC approved are the responsibility of the local authorities and the information required is not held centrally; however, I am aware that three domestic abattoirs are engaged in deer slaughter on a seasonal basis.
The overall throughput for 1990 and 1991 is believed to be approximately 1,650 deer, broken down as follows:
In Scotland no deer have been slaughtered in commercial abattoirs in the last two years.
1990 1991 Red deer 300 1,050 Fallow deer 70 230 The protection of Animals Act 1911, under which it is an offence to cause any captive animal unnecessary suffering, applies to deer in abattoirs. The Government are committed to introducing legislation to implement recommendations of the Farm Animal Welfare Council on the welfare of deer at slaughter as soon as parliamentary time permits. In the meantime the Government have asked abattoir owners to observe a voluntary code of practice on abattoir slaughter of deer. The code recommends that a veterinary surgeon should be present during all stunning and slaughter.