"Any animal suffering is excluded": The Ministry of Agriculture of the Novosibirsk Region commented on accusations of cruel "liquidation" of livestock

The Ministry published clarifications from the Federal Center for Animal Health regarding the mass culling of animals. Authorities insist the procedure is painless and poses no potential environmental risks.

"When it comes to the forced slaughter of animals, they are first euthanized using approved veterinary drugs to ensure the cessation of all vital functions. This eliminates any suffering for the animals prior to disposal," says the letter.

Previously, the publication "Takie Dela" discovered that the drugs used by the veterinary service to confiscate the livestock could only paralyze the animals' muscles, leaving them feeling and maintaining brain function. This means the animals experienced suffocation, fear, and pain during their death.

Another experience of farmers from Novosibirsk areaThe remains of slaughtered cattle could contaminate wastewater, which would then end up in groundwater. According to locals, the slaughter sites were hastily constructed—fires were constructed from railroad ties and tires, and the ditches were no deeper than a couple of meters.

The Federal Center for Animal Health claims that the destruction methods “prevent any pathogens from entering the soil and groundwater.” 

As noted by Siberian Express, which drew attention to the letter, the statement is impersonal from beginning to end, with no mention of any regions in its text, making it more like a rehash of regulations.

The authorities still haven't provided any definitive information about the "dangerous disease" that prompted the mass slaughter of livestock in the Novosibirsk region. There are several theories about what happened—more on this in the NeMoskva investigation.