Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News 

Video Credit: CEN/@veronica.linale.7

This is the moment a farmer finds a pregnant cow with its rump and hind legs apparently hacked off by suspected meat smugglers.

The incident took place near the city of Canelones in the southern Uruguayan department of the same name when the farmer, named Raul Faina, was searching for missing livestock.

In the footage, the butchered cow is seen lying in mud with most of its rump and hind legs apparently missing.

The poor cow moves its head and still seems completely conscious.

Reports said the animal was pregnant when it was butchered by suspected meat smugglers.

Faina told local media: “I was walking through the fields when I found the mutilated cow in a ravine. A quarter of its body was hacked off, but it was still alive. It was shocking to see an animal like that.”

He added: “They are animals made of flesh and bone and they feel pain and cold. Sadly, I had to slaughter it myself.”

Canelones Farmer Association spokesman Justino Zabala told local media: “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.

“They removed its hindquarters and in such incidents, the meat usually ends up on the food market, butchers or even in supermarkets.”

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. No arrests had been reported at the time of writing.

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