STOCK Journal contributor Jacqui Bateman has posted a humorous response on Facebook to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ anti-wool campaign.
It features an eye-catching photograph of shearer Daniel Telfer doing the job naked, which she said aimed to put a positive spin on the negative message of the advertisement. In two days, the post went viral, being shared more than 4000 times and reaching 700,000 people.
“It’s great to see supporters of agriculture getting into social media and having a voice,” Ms Bateman said.
“PETA’s agenda to put an end to all forms of animal farming and ownership, and the underhanded and deceitful propaganda that they pedal to the unsuspecting and gullible public, has annoyed me for ages.
“I just can’t believe that they can get away with telling blatant lies about industries they know nothing about.”
Merino SA president Roger Fiebig believes most people have wised up to the shock tactics employed by PETA. Last year the group put out a similar ad featuring a musician rather than a reality television star. “This is two years in a row that they’ve tried this,” he said.
“I think the first one fooled a few people for a while and then people got the gist that it was all a fake. I think people have wised up to their tricks.
“They’re just grasping at straws.”
Livestock SA president Geoff Power said the PETA ad obviously did not reflect the reality of what happened on-farm.
“Animal welfare is at the forefront of every decision we make on-farm,” he said.