Uruguay | Cerro Largo | Blood farm “Biomega SA” | Blood extraction
A worker is pulling on the tail of the mare to reach the genitals.
A worker is twisting the tail of a mare. This is incredibly painful.
A mare is going down on her knees.
A mare tries to escape.
A severly injured mare is being pushed into the fixating box.
The blood extraction starts at 8:15 in the morning. Blood is taken for 6 to 13.5 minutes from the pregnant mares. The handling by the employees is extremely unprofessional and cruel. Different objects are used to force the horses into the restraint boxes: long wooden sticks, short pointed sticks, ropes and rubber strings. The mares are systematically hit and poked with these objects, including on their heads. Other methods to move them forwards include pulling or twisting their tails, kicking them and hitting them with fists. If mares refuse to move, employees stab with wooden sticks into their genitals, which is extremely painful. Some animals are mistreated by several employees at the same time.
The horses are panicked and fight in defence. Several rear up and try to jump out of the restraint boxes to escape their ordeal. Some collapse inside the boxes or go down on their knees, their head pulled up by the short rope and their neck overstretched. Blood is taken regardless of the animals’ condition, even if they are seriously injured or severely emaciated, and their condition remains untreated. After the blood extraction, some mares run away as fast as possible, while others stagger out of the restraint boxes and appear to have difficulties keeping their balance.
