Stellenbosch University admits sheep suffocation incident during study

STELLENBOSCH University has acknowledged that students in its Department of Animal Sciences blocked a sheep’ nostrils and mouth with their hands during a feed experiment — an act now confirmed to have violated the institution’s approved animal research protocols.

- SARENE KLOREN

The incident, which came to light following a report in Farmer's Weekly Magazine, prompted an investigation by the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA).

The magazine alleged that students at the university's experimental farm had nearly suffocated sheep using plastic bags to make them urinate and defecate as part of studies analysing their feed intake.

A whistleblower also claimed that some animals had, at times, been left without food or water.

In a statement released on October 21, Stellenbosch University (SU) confirmed that its internal probe had found students carried out what was described as “transient apnoea” on one of the sheep.

The practice involving the temporary obstruction of the animal's airways was found to be “a deviation from the approved protocols of its research ethics committee for animal care and use”