Pregnant cow is found alive with its rear legs hacked off by cruel meat smugglers

A farmer in southern Uruguay found a pregnant cow lying in the mud with most of its rump and hind legs hacked off. 

It is thought the cow’s rear was cut off by meat smugglers at a site near the city of Canelones. 

Farmer Raul Faina came across the live female cow in a ravine while searching for some of his own missing livestock.

The pregnant cow can be seen, clearly conscious, despite having most of its rump and hind legs having been hacked off. The farmer who found the cow euthanized it as its injuries were too severe

Footage he took of the butchered cow, shows it still alive as it lies in the mud, despite no longer have hind legs.   

‘A quarter of its body was hacked off, but it was still alive,’ he said. ‘It was shocking to see an animal like that.’   

‘They are animals made of flesh and bone and they feel pain and cold.’ 

The farmer said the cow, who was thought to be pregnant at the time, was euthanised at the scene. 

‘Sadly, I had to slaughter it myself,’ he said.

The farmer said he was shocked to see the badly mutlated cow still alive, lying in the ravine

Canelones Farmer Association spokesman Justino Zabala told told local media he suspected those responsible were meat smugglers.   

‘They removed its hindquarters and in such incidents, the meat usually ends up on the food market, butchers or even in supermarkets,’ he said.   

Zabala also condemned them for not putting the animal out of its misery before the cruel act. 

‘It would not have been difficult for the culprit, obviously skilled with a knife, to have slit its throat rather than leave the animal like that. 

Minister of Agriculture Carlos Maria Uriarte said on Twitter: ‘I hope those responsible are caught for being so evil.’

The local authorities have yet to confirm whether they are investigating the incident, or if any arrests would be made.