233 dead sheep at Bendigo saleyards exposed in animal welfare probe
An activist reported 233 dead sheep at Bendigo saleyards. This led to an investigation into breaches of fitness-to-load rules.
An animal welfare activist filed a 40-page report with Agriculture Victoria. The report detailed 81 official complaints about animal welfare breaches at Bendigo saleyards.
Footage shows dead sheep in pens and injured animals offered for sale. Sheep Advocate Australia founder Gary Hall said the facility failed to enforce fitness-to-load rules.
These rules set out the condition livestock must be in before transport. The report covered 233 dead sheep over six months.
Hall said pregnant ewes close to birth were transported illegally. Newborn lambs were too.
The council-owned saleyards and Agriculture Victoria are now investigating. The Livestock Management Act 2010 sets penalties for operators breaching these standards.
- 233
- Dead sheep counted
- 81
- Official complaints
- November 2025 to May 2026
- Time period
- Bendigo saleyards
- Facility
Why it mattersWhen animal welfare rules are not enforced at livestock exchanges, sick or injured animals reach markets. They may be transported illegally. This causes unnecessary suffering.
AustraliaVictorian livestock markets and the farming community face investigation and potential tighter rules over how animals are assessed before sale and transport.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 6 h ago
