Israel slaughters cattle cruelly: group

Australian cattle are being slaughtered with "wanton cruelty" in Israel, new footage shows.

The footage, which was shot using hidden cameras in a major Israeli abattoir, shows the cattle having their tails crushed and being hoisted by one leg while still conscious before having their throats sawn.

The abattoir is accredited under Australia's live export regulation system.

Animals Australia has lodged a complaint with the Department of Agriculture, saying the practices are in breach of domestic and international standards.

"Kosher slaughter in Israel already involves cattle enduring the extreme stress of being tipped upside down and having their throats cut whilst fully conscious," Animals Australia chief investigator Lyn White said.

"To then have workers subjecting clearly conscious and distressed animals to such wanton cruelty is simply appalling."

The group is calling for CCTV to be made mandatory in all abattoirs approved under Australia's Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System, with remote access being provided to the Department of Agriculture.

"The technology is there and there is no reason why this cannot be a regulatory condition," Ms White said.

An Israeli government investigation is under way and the abattoir is facing a lengthy closure for failing to meet religious slaughter requirements, Animals Australia says.

Both of Israel's major abattoirs have been exposed for animal cruelty over the past two years.