Petition · past parliament
Make illegal the slaughter of pregnant cows.
Closed
2,830 signatures
What the petition asks
More than 150,000 pregnant cows are sent to slaughter each year in the UK. At least 40,000 of these cows are in the last stages of their pregnancy and are bearing calves capable of independent life. Approximately 90% of the cows are dairy cows. The foetus is still alive during the cow's slaughter.
During slaughter the foetus is alive while its mother is stunned and slaughtered. This means that the foetus would still be living while its mother’s front feet, head and possibly hide are removed. There is no legislation to protect unborn animals in abattoirs - even if they are days away from being born. To slaughter heavily pregnant animals and throw away fully formed foetuses is a barbarity.
Timeline
| 8 Feb 2016 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 8 Aug 2016 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
2,830
Status
Closed
Opened
8 Feb 2016
Closed
8 Aug 2016
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.