Exposing Animal Auctions in Latin America

Individual cattle look up from a densely crowded pen at a live animal auction facility. The Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG), the country’s government agriculture and livestock service, marked the animals with stickers and paint tags before the animals were corralled into pens. In some pens, animals are so crowded they cannot move more than a few inches. Feria de Animales Fegosa, Purranque, Osorno Province, Los Lagos, Chile, 2023. Molly Condit / Sinergia Animal / We Animals Media

According to a 2022 report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the livestock sector in Latin America and the Caribbean is set to increase by 14 percent over the next 10 years. This report also emphasizes the importance of global trade, stating that “by 2031 the region is expected to account for 18 percent of global food exports.”

“It is devastating to know that thousands of animals experience this level of suffering and neglect every week. What we have discovered in these auctions is unacceptable. We call on the community and competent government agencies: it is urgent to stop this systematic and massive violation of animal protection.” ― Carolina Galvani, Executive Director of Sinergia Animal

Inside Live Animal Auctions

Argentina is known globally for beef production and raises more than 50 million cattle each year, more than the human population of the country. At some point during their lives, these animals will be sent to auction where they will be either sold for slaughter or further fattening.

The Mercado Cañuelas, a large-scale live cattle auction in the Buenos Aires province, is one of the country’s many auctions where animals are sold prior to slaughter. During our photojournalists’ visit, an estimated 7,000 animals were brought to this particular auction from various farms.

At a cattle auction, milk leaks from an emaciated dairy cow lying on a thick layer of wet feces inside a holding pen. The enclosure’s floor has no bedding. Mercado Canuelas, Canuelas, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, 2023. Molly Condit / Sinergia Animal / We Animals Media

“This was my first live auction and the sheer volume of animals, the state they were kept in and their varying physical conditions were altogether horrifying. Mostly men attended or were involved, which made it even more interesting that our fixer was able to land an appointment with one of the very few women who work there, Valeria. I was able to document freely and noticed other attendees were using cell phones to take photos and video of their prospective purchases. A bell was rung continuously to indicate when a new auction was starting. The fear in the eyes of every animal who looked at me will never escape my memory. When I could, I told them ‘I see you.’ ” ― Molly Condit, Animal Photojournalist

Auctioneers sell both beef and dairy cows at auctions, who are aggressively corralled by handlers on horseback into crowded holding pens. The animals are packed in so tightly that they can’t move or access the single water trough provided inside each pen. The noise, forced movement and often abusive corralling back and forth into pens places great stress on each animal. These conditions and treatment appeared to be standard practice.

During this assignment our photojournalists also witnessed sick cows, including some with open wounds, some so emaciated they struggled to remain standing and one with such a severe ocular infection that his eye was bulging out of the socket.

In addition to the sale of adult cows, we documented the live auction of calves less than one week old as well as pigs and one horse.

An ailing calf who appears thin and weak lies on the ground in a bare cement pen shared with a horse at a live animal auction. While the horse stands nearby with a raised foot, the calf remains on the ground and largely unresponsive to the environment. Feria de Animales Fegosa, Purranque, Osorno Province, Los Lagos, Chile, 2023. Molly Condit / Sinergia Animal / We Animals Media

These visuals provide a glimpse into the lives of animals in the often overlooked space between farm and slaughterhouse.

Sinergia Animal seeks to transform the Latin American food industry, promoting more ethical practices and raising consumer awareness about the implications of animal exploitation. Support their efforts by sharing this campaign video.

Data sources: FAO / Dialogochino