Animal Welfare Notices issued to SA's Andgar Piggery after 14 euthanased by RSPCA
The ABC has chosen to exclude some of the more confronting images provided.
Officials have euthanased over a dozen pigs at a South Australian piggery following two raids by the RSPCA.
The investigation was prompted after an animal rights group leaked footage appearing to show pigs feeding on carcasses, and living alongside dead and decomposing animals.
The owners and manager of Andgar Piggery at Dublin, 50 minutes outside Adelaide, were also issued with 21 Animal Welfare Notices instructing them to "take immediate action in regards to conditions and maintenance".
The ABC reviewed the vision which, according to Victorian-based Farm Transparency Project (FTP), was taken on June 14 and 20.
The group's executive director Chris Delforce said the footage was shot inside four sheds where livestock were housed, but the ABC could not independently verify the filming location.
"It's clear that the South Australian community is shocked by what they've seen at this piggery and there's a question now about how it was able to get this bad in the first place, " he said.
"What it seems to us is that the RSPCA simply does not have the resources to be able to effectively monitor the welfare of animals in farms across the state.
"You have to wonder how much cruelty … is going unseen, unnoticed.
Mr Delforce said FTP had so far not experienced any legal repercussions for entering the Dublin facility unlawfully, but the group had been fined for illegally entering other agricultural premises in the past to film animals and their living conditions.
"We understand that's always going to be a risk, doing what we do, and we accept that there are going to be legal consequences," he said.
"But without us taking those risks and facing those consequences nothing will get seen by the public.
"Nothing will get done. There'll be no incentive for the government or the RSPCA to actually step in and do anything."
In a statement, the SA government said it was aware that RSPCA South Australia was investigating a complaint relating to the piggery but "will not provide commentary on an ongoing investigation".
"The state government fully funds RSPCA SA to enforce the act and has provided RSPCA SA an extra $16 million over four years since the 2024-'25 state budget for animal welfare compliance activities," it said.
"The government hopes the RSPCA SA finalise their investigation soon and if they find that charges should be laid that they do this expeditiously.
"South Australians have no tolerance for acts of animal cruelty."
In the wake of media coverage of the footage, dozens of protesters gathered outside the site on Long Plains Road on Saturday to demand the closure of the facility.
In a statement on Tuesday, RSPCA South Australia said the investigation into alleged animal welfare breaches at Andgar Piggery was still progressing.
Along with the 21 Animal Welfare Notices, the RSPCA said its inspectors would continue to monitor the operation with "spot inspections".
The owners and manager had also been formally interviewed, and the RSPCA said it was "now preparing a comprehensive brief of evidence with a view to instigate court proceedings".
"We acknowledge the distress and concern these images have caused and we want to assure the community that we take any allegation of animal cruelty extremely seriously," its statement added.
"Our Inspectors work diligently with the South Australian Police and other relevant agencies to fully investigate allegations of animal ill-treatment and bring offenders before the courts."
The RSPCA did not clarify if charges had been laid.
Piggery owner Andgar Proprietors declined to comment.
Under South Australia's amended Animal Welfare Act those found guilty of animal cruelty face maximum fines of up to $250,000 and/or 10 years jail for the aggravated ill-treatment of an animal.
A corporation can now be fined up to $1 million for mistreating animals.
The reforms, which came into effect in February, also include a proactive "duty of care" provision requiring pet owners to provide animals with a minimum level of care such as adequate food and water.
The RSPCA and PIRSA were contacted for further comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
22 minutes ago
- ABC News
Abattoir lawyer accused of 'blame shifting' after worker loses foot
A New South Wales Riverina abattoir has been accused of "blame shifting" despite pleading guilty to charges related to a workplace injury that resulted in a worker losing his foot. During a sentencing hearing in the NSW District Court in Sydney on Tuesday, defence counsel representing Hilltop Meats in Young, Bruce Hodgkinson, said an auger system in which the worker's foot became entangled had a lock-out system that could have prevented the 2021 incident. He told the court that lock-out system would have demobilised the machine. "That's not a complex procedure," Mr Hodgkinson said. The worker had been clearing a blockage in the meat auger conveyor in October 2021 when a colleague turned the machine back on, causing his foot to become caught inside the screw mechanism. Emergency crews worked for more than two hours to free the man in his 30s, who suffered significant injuries to both legs and later had a foot amputated. SafeWork NSW started action against the meat processing facility in 2023. Hilltop Meats pleaded guilty in March to failures which allowed the worker to be exposed to dangerous moving parts of the auger, admitted to placing the worker at risk of falling from height on the auger and being at risk of death or serious injury. It further admitted it failed to conduct a risk assessment of the task of removing blockages in the auger. Crown prosecutor Matthew Moir accused the defence of "blame shifting". "It's the duty holder who has the obligation to ensure employees are property trained, instructed in the correct method of work," he said. He accused the defence of "trying to blame others … in particular [the victim]", for failing to follow the procedures in place. The court heard the victim began work at the abattoir in 2015 and had previously been trained in the lock-out process, before he left the company in 2018. The victim returned in July 2021. The company had changed hands, however, Mr Moir noted the victim was not retrained in the lock-out procedure. The court heard that about three months after the workplace incident, the victim was called back into work and reprimanded for his actions. Judge Wendy Strathdee was concerned by the company's action. "Would the more appropriate fashion have been to speak to the rest of the workplace rather than issue a written warning and threat of termination to the man who lost his foot," she said. Mr Hodgkinson said the "difficult" decision to call in the victim had not been taken lightly but deemed it necessary. "If they're going to take enforcement action, how are they going to do it if they don't go directly to [the victim]," he said. Judge Strathdee said while she understood it was a "very difficult, delicate situation", she remained concerned the victim was reprimanded before he had returned to work. The court heard workers had developed their own practice of clearing auger blockages, which were a common occurrence, by standing above the unguarded conveyor screw several metres above a concrete floor. Agreed facts in the case showed workers told SafeWork the guards over the auger had been removed for months prior to the incident. The court heard a maintenance supervisor had told a different worker not to stand in an unguarded auger, but no further action was taken. It heard while the maintenance manager was aware of the practice, he did not tell senior management. Mr Hodgkinson said they were unaware workers were engaging in the practice until the incident occurred. Judge Strathdee adjourned proceedings and to hand down a judgement at a later date.
News.com.au
29 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Racing Victoria stewards probe The Storyteller stomach-tubing allegation against Pakenham trainer John Leek Jr
Racing Victoria stewards are investigating Pakenham trainer John Leek Jr in relation to alleged race day treatment of a horse, The Storyteller. The Storyteller was scratched by Order of Stewards last Thursday from a 3100m Benchmark 70 at Warrnambool after Leek Jnr was intercepted roadside en route to the track. Race day stewards opened and adjourned an inquiry into the 'circumstances surrounding the late scratching' of The Storyteller, a $4.40 chance at the time in pre-race markets. Racing Victoria (RV) has confirmed The Storyteller-Leek Jnr investigation remains ongoing. Leek Jnr politely declined to comment on the stewards' inquiry and allegations when contacted by this masthead on Tuesday, in respect of the 'ongoing investigation'. This masthead established RV investigative and intelligence unit stewards, Compliance Assurance Team (CAT), approached Leek Jnr parked roadside near Terang last Thursday. Leek Jnr was allegedly found in possession of equipment which could be used for stomach-tubing the horse. This masthead understands roadside comments from Leek Jnr form part of the stewards' evidence. The CAT stewards wear police-style standard body cameras during integrity operations. This masthead does not suggest Leek Jnr is guilty of any alleged breach, only that RV stewards are investigating an event roadside, which led to an ordered withdrawal of The Storyteller last Thursday. The Storyteller turns the tables on Tishman in a hard-fought battle in the straight ðŸ'� @DanielStack33 — (@Racing) July 6, 2025 • RV would not be drawn on whether the CAT team targeted Leek Jnr specifically, as part of a regular covert surveillance operations, or coincidently drove past the parked horse float at the opportune time. The CAT stewards conduct random and targeted investigations to uphold Victorian racing integrity. Under Australian Rules of Racing (AR255) stomach-tubing or being involved in such activity is banned on the day of a race, trial or jumpout, without stewards' permission. The process involves a tube being fed through a horse's nose, down the throat and into the stomach, to administer sodium-bicarbonate dissolved in water. The 'milkshake' is said to reduce lactic acid and help a horse run further with less fatigue. A minimum 12-month disqualification is mandatory, in absence of special circumstances, if a person is found guilty of 'stomach-tubing or attempted stomach-tubing' on race day or one clear day prior. The Storyteller has an acceptance to race in a 2238m Benchmark 64 on Thursday at Sale. The four-year-old Roc De Cambes gelding, purchased for $25,000 out of an online sale in late April, has won three of five starts and more than $60,000 prizemoney for part-owner Leek Jnr and connections since the digital auction.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Cheyanne Logan-Radford sentenced for negligent driving leading to death of 3yo son
A magistrate has implored a young Tasmanian mother to turn her life around after she was given a suspended prison sentence for negligent driving that caused the death of her 3-year-old son. Cheyanne Taylor Logan-Radford wept in the Launceston Magistrates Court as her sentence was handed down, 16 months after the car she was driving while under the influence of drugs crashed near Lefroy, in the state's north. Her five-month imprisonment was fully suspended for two years and was accompanied by a 12-month community corrections order on the condition Logan-Radford addressed her drug use. The 26-year-old had earlier pleaded guilty to negligent driving causing death, as well as a string of other offences, including stealing a motor vehicle and driving under the influence of drugs. Magistrate Simon Brown acknowledged she had already "suffered very significantly" as a result of the tragedy. However, he said her lapse in judgment was "a very serious one". Logan-Radford's two young children were in the car when the crash occurred in the early hours of March 22, 2024. "Neither child was properly secured [with child restraints]." A request by Logan-Radford's lawyer for a home detention order was denied, with Magistrate Brown saying the defendant's housing had been "a moveable feast" in recent months. Magistrate Brown said Logan-Radford's future would be "bleak" unless she made a concerted effort to tackle her drug dependency. "Drugs have been an issue and appear, to some extent, to remain an issue," he said. He said she had displayed a "pattern of concerning and antisocial behaviour" since the incident, having been charged with unlawful possession of a knife while in a public space earlier this month. Magistrate Brown said her life was now at a crossroads. Logan-Radford was also suspended from driving for three years and received more than $1,300 in fines.
