Stellenbosch University animal abuse investigation

Stellenbosch University (SU) is facing an investigation by the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) after Farmer's Weekly was alerted to the alleged inhumane treatment of animals at the SU's experimental farm.

- Lindi Botha

During trials conducted by students in SU’s Department of Animal Sciences to test the nutritional uptake of feed, sheep were allegedly near-suffocated with plastic bags to force them to release their bowels.

Manure and urine samples needed to be collected for the tests, but rather than wait for the sheep to defecate naturally, the students attempted to speed up the process. As it is common for animals to release their bowels moments before they die, the plastic bags were quickly removed after the animals defecated to prevent them from dying.

The report was made to Farmer's Weekly on condition of anonymity. It further stated that animals in the facilities had at times gone without water and food.