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PETA files complaint against Fort Valley State slaughterhouse

A federal agency says a worker there shot a bull in the head 10 times with a bolt gun before knocking it unconscious

FORT VALLEY, Ga. — Animal rights activist group PETA is asking District Attorney David Cooke to prosecute an alleged animal-abuse case at Fort Valley State University.

They're citing a letter from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that claims a worker had to shoot a bull in the head 10 times with a captive-bolt gun before knocking it unconscious.

PETA's news release says, "this bull experienced a prolonged, agonizing death at Fort Valley State University."

In addition to asking Cooke to prosecute the worker, PETA is urging people "to go vegan and help prevent more animals from suffering in slaughterhouses."

Their news release includes the letter from the USDA to Fort Valley State's Georgia Small Ruminant Research and Extension Center.

The letter describes the June 26 incident at the FVSU slaughterhouse and says they violated rules for using captive-bolt stunners. Those rules say animals should be knocked unconscious "with a minimum of excitement and discomfort."

The letter is signed by Phyllis Adams, district manager of the USDA's Atlanta office. She could not be reached for comment.

Barney Welch, acting manager of the Atlanta office, declined to comment and referred questions to the USDA's press office.

The USDA letter is headed "notice of suspension" and says the agency plans to withdraw its inspectors from the Fort Valley State program. It says the school can appeal that decision at an administrative hearing.

We've reached out to Fort Valley State for comment, but have not heard back yet.

Their website describes the Small Ruminant Research and Extension Center as a training, meat-processing, research, and education center that studies better ways to produce meat products. They process goats, sheep, cattle, and swine for local farmers.

All meat produced there is inspected by state and federal agencies, the university says.

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