Farmers warned not to sell lambs to Muslims who want them for religious sacrifice

Environmental health chiefs are warning farmers against the illicit practice after one was approached by a group of Muslims wanting to ritually sacrifice 40 lambs.

The men approached farmer Alan Davies asking to buy and illicitly kill lambs on his land as part of the Eid celebrations which start today.

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Mr Davies, 58, of Pinfold Farm, Ribchester, Lancs, alerted health officers after men came knocking at his door on two separate occasions.

Environmental health chiefs across East Lancashire have since sent out hundreds of letters to farms asking for people to remain vigilant and launched an operation aimed at cracking down on the "inhumane practice."

The slaughter of animals has always been part of Eid celebrations but there is an increasing trend for people to want to carry out the slaughter themselves rather than leave it to an expert.

Mr Davies, who has a sign outside his Preston Road farm saying "Lambs For Sale" said he was disgusted when he was approached by the men.

He said: "Two Asian men and a woman pulled up in a black cab and asked my wife Anne about the lambs for sale.

"They said they wanted between 30 to 40 lambs that they could slaughter on our land.

"We don't kill our own lambs and Anne told them it was against the law.

"On Sunday at 4pm two different Asian men came to the door saying they wanted live lambs to slaughter. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was gobsmacked because it's just so barbaric.

"We all have different cultures but what I don't understand is why there are people out there who will do this when there are plenty of properly trained halal slaughtermen out there who can do it following the correct procedures."

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Eamonn Roberts, a senior environmental health officer for Ribble Valley Council, said: "Trained slaughtermen use very sharp knives but in the cases where it is being done illegally we have no way of knowing how the animals are being killed.

"They could be using blunt knives causing distress to the animals. There are also issues surrounding disposal.

"There are various organs from the lambs that, if they are not disposed of properly, can lead to disease.

"If the remains are being buried then the land around it becomes contaminated. There is also a risk to health if it gets into the food chain.

"Any meat produced in this way would not be certified fit for human consumption, which could cause health problems, and it does not meet any religious requirements."

Environmental health officers from Blackburn with Darwen Council also say local farmers are being approached by people from the borough asking to buy and slaughter sheep on their premises.

Sacrificing an animal, usually a sheep, is a religious practice performed at Eid-ul-Adha.

It commemorates the time when the Prophet Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son for Allah.

Lancashire Council of Mosques chairman Hamid Quershi condemned the illegal slaughters and said letters would be issued in mosques warning people.

Animals must only be slaughtered on licensed premises and must be checked by a vet beforehand.