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Gordon Ramsay's pet lamb slaughter 'has turned viewers into vegetarians'
Last updated at 13:52pm on 28.06.07Animal rights' group PETA has praised Gordon Ramsay for showing scenes of lambs being slaughtered to millions of viewers on his TV show.
PETA claims the images of two lambs being stunned with 200 volts of electricity and then being hung up and having their throats cut have turned a number of viewers vegetarian.
Viewers could clearly see blood gush from the open wound and then the immediate aftermath as each lamb still twitched - although they were both said to be dead and that was apparently the result of nerves still acting in their bodies.
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Gordon and his wife can barely watch as the lambs are slaughtered.
PETA said that a number of people - put off by the slaughter - had called the charity since Tuesday night to request vegetarian starter packs.
A spokesman said: "Ramsay's F-Word depicted a grossly sanitised version of the horrors routinely faced by millions of lambs every year before they reach the dinner plate.
"But the death of these animals have not been completely in vain since the distressing viewing will have turned many compassionate people vegetarian."
Almost four million people watched Channel 4's F-Word as the foul-mouthed chef helped hold the lambs as a slaughterman pressed electric tongs to either side of their head.
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In happier times: Gordon shares some quality time with his lamb.
Ramsay was also shown carving the removed skull of each lamb, and then cutting out their brains which he said he had promised to give to fellow chef, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.
During the slaughter process Ramsay said: "The last thing on my mind now is f*****g shepherd's pie." He had been rearing the lambs for three months in the garden of his London home with the intention of serving them in a shepherd's pie at his Claridge's restaurant.
Ramsay's wife Tana joined him at the slaughterhouse and witnessed the shocking process, although she looked pale and upset.
Channel 4 had broadcast a warning before the final part of The F-Word show, saying: "There will be scenes of animal slaughter which some viewers may find offensive." One of the lambs, called Gavin, was spared at the last minute after he became ill with pneumonia and had to be given antibiotics which meant he could not be slaughtered for another month.
It meant that none of the show's original three lambs got to the slaughterhouse.
One died at birth and another - named after Welsh singer Charlotte Church - was killed earlier this month as it grazed in the grounds of David and Victoria Beckham's 17-acre Hertfordshire home.
Earlier in the programme Ramsay had weighed the 17-week-old lambs to make sure they were over the weight of 60kg.
His four children were involved in helping him and had been throughout the whole time they were at their home.
He loaded them into a trailer and then drove them, with his wife, to the slaughterhouse.
The slaughterman, known only as Mark, said there was a maximum time of 20 seconds between each lamb being stunned and then having its throat cut. After that each lamb was shown having its wool and skin removed, which Ramsay helped to do, and then their insides were removed.
Ramsay even held one of their livers, commenting on how warm it still was. He said: "It's hard to believe they were only just alive a few minutes ago." At the end of the show Ramsay said viewers would be able to watch next week as the lamb meat is served in a shepherd's pie.
Channel 4 defended Ramsay insisting the "humane" slaughter met government guidelines and said it was carried out after seeking advice from the National Sheep Association and breeders.
A spokeswoman said: "The slaughter was carried out humanely. The use of a small abattoir and the presence of a vet on-site ensured that the sheep were not stressed during the short period of time leading up to their slaughter."
Reader views (13)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
Even Christ ate meat! So don't tell me that we are not made to eat meat, although we should eat it sparingly! The scriptures warn us against those who in the last days tell us not to eat meat! Guess we are in the end times ha!!
- Lance, NW North Dakota
Kaylie, have you ever heard of supply and demand? the less people demand for something, the less supply there will be because they would be out of business. We weren't "made" to eat meat. All we need is a balanced diet with protein and nutrients. And plus, even back in the stoneages, hunters only hunted the food they needed. They didn't kill an overloaded surplus because they weren't greedy and gluttonous like you. Constant torture and killing of these animals is ridiculous and people like you, Kaylie, just don't get it. Turn your head away....and you will walk blindly into everything.
- Tiffany, San Jose, CA, USA
Personally, I don't really think that it's about people suddenly disliking the taste of meat. It's obviously just more about the fact that a lot of us have just really never thought about where their meat comes from and how it gets onto the plate! You are right Andrea in that "we have been doing this for ages" but I do genuinely think that the connection has never really been made previously. Education is good and I think it's essential for us to see where our food comes from and how it gets onto our plates. If that turns some individuals into vegetarians, than that's entirely their decision and they shouldn't be judged for that.
- Anna, Edinburgh, Scotland
If you eat meat it would be good for you to know where it came from. What's the point of being a vegetarian, we were made to eat meat if you want to save some poor animal from being tortured killed or something, do something about it don't think your contribution of being a vegan and not eating an animal that is already dead will stop another from being killed. Someone else will eat it instead. Sure the slaughter was gory but you could just turn away, its not that hard.
- Kaylie, Australia
After witnessing the horror of carrots being yanked from the ground and diced into mince, I have decided to become a Level 5 Vegan--I will eat nothing that casts a shadow!
- James, Portland, OR USA
I can't see the reason why people just get funny about what happens to animals we eat. We have been doing this for ages and now that a tv crew shows you the process of killing you dislike the taste of the meat.
Oooh, please!
- Andrea, London
Gordon Ramsey disgusts me. I know meateaters who are disgusted by him also. He has taken away some of the complacency of "corpse" eating though. I'm glad he kindly
converted some people to vegetarianism, it's probably the only decent thing he's ever done.
- Anne Louise Wilson, Hampton, Middx
I think if there was ever a webcam installed people would really have a chance to know the truth. Remember the lambs slaughtered are in their infancy? Also with only a 20 second window between stunning and making sure the throat is cut I am not convinced that some animal don’t regain consciousness as they painfully bleed out. Vegetarians are not tree huggers; there are vegetarian politicians, doctors, city worker, academics, and athletes. It is the best thing I have ever done.
- V.H. Sheppard, Midlands
You don't have to be a tree hugger to realise that eating meat is wrong. I am a vegan and shun anything with animal products for my clothes, food or household products. Animals are here for there own purpose not for us to exploit and abuse (I don't care what any 2000 year old books say).
I am glad that Gordon has shown the slaughter - I hope people remember this when they are in the supermarket! Everyone should think about where their food comes from, and I'll bet the stuff in the shops wasn't treated anywhere near as well as Gordon's.
P.S. Just because I care about the people, animals and the planet DOES NOT mean that I wear combats, have dreadlocks and don't wash - I never leave home without make up, and enjoy glitter, heels and (non-animal) junk food. THINK BEFORE YOU EAT.
- Fiona, Birmingham
I agree with Brian. I believe that all slaughterhouses should be in the middle of towns with glass walls. Lets see how many people will eat meat then!
- Sue Catt, ashford kent
It is appalling how animals are treated in the meat industry. I hope this show has made a few more people realise this!
- Eve, Birmingham
I'll be honest, Brian from Telford, I never really gave it any thought - or perhaps I chose to ignore it - until I saw the realities. And I grew up and reside in a rural area! I've had a real rethink over recent weeks. Gordon Ramsay treated his animals humanely but we don't know what goes on inside abbatoires and I fear the worst. I've not eaten meat for over a week and I will almost certainly stick to a veggie diet now, even though typically I am as far from tree-huggy as it's possible to be!
- Rd, Glamorgan, UK
How can people be offended? Just where do they think that meat comes from? The supermarket?
- Brian, Telford
