Images showing animals at the Royal Easter Show with cuts and scratches have triggered an intense debate over their treatment.
Anna Skinner, a visitor to the annual Auckland show, said she was shocked to see how "sad" the animals looked. Images she posted on Facebook of pigs and sheep with cuts to their bodies have been shared more than 250 times since being published on Friday. They have also generated debate about the animals' well-being.
Skinner said she found the treatment of animals at the show "shocking" and it was "absolutely awful" to see. In her post, Skinner said she assumed the cuts were from a shearing competition, but that she expected better from the show.
![An image of a sheep at the Easter Show after being shorn. Photo / Facebook](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/7ARCSFRTVFAPQ2Q4KBI73CX6GQ.jpg?auth=2e6adc26c5a6ae0c94904764ebae36369e9da3cb566562bac6d3b0fc9a36e273&width=16&height=22&quality=70&smart=true)
The Royal Easter Show responded to the claims and photos by saying it took the "highest level of care" of all animals on-site and that all its animals were rested for three hours in blocks of one hour at a time to ensure they got a break.