French 'Organic 'Slaughterhouse Shut Down Over Video Showing Alleged Animal Abuse

French slaughterhouse closed after secret video showing suspected animal cruelty was released.

The abattoir in southern France was shut down Tuesday pending an investigation after an animal rights group released a video purportedly showing abuse of livestock at the facility.

The group L214 published the four-minute video on its website, claiming to have secretly filmed it at the abattoir in Le Vigan, in France southern Gard region, which is certified as "organic".

Scenes include employees tasering livestock, hurling sheep against barriers, hanging pigs by one leg, and pulling a cow by one horn.

Cattle and pigs are supposed to be stunned to death before their throats are slit, but can be seen still moving as they are being bled.

The agriculture minister, Stéphane Le Foll, denounced the abbatoir’s “intolerable practices”, saying staff would be “punished, as they should be”. He said veterinary investigators would work with local prosecutors on the case.