Vegan activists say they are ‘relaxing’ cows on their way to the slaughterhouse by whispering sweet nothings in their ears.

They perform the final goodbyes by stopping vans for just a few minutes, and whisper ‘I love you’ and ‘we’re sorry’ through slats in the metal walls.

The group say the monthly vigils allow the cows to have their ‘last rites’.

Activist vegans whisper ‘I love you’ and ‘we’re sorry’ (Picture: Ash Sudra Photography/SWNS)

The group gather around trucks filled with cattle and pray (Picture: Ash Sudra Photography/SWNS)

Founder of Leicestershire Animal Save Dina Aherne said her activists perform the rituals outside Foyle Food Group, a cow processing plant in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

She claims the group has an understanding with the slaughterhouse bosses, who let them stop the trucks and trailers transporting the cows.

‘We want to make the cows feel at ease every time because they are living and sacred beings,’ Dina said.

‘Cows have a living soul and conscience. We really want to help comfort them.

‘We have to arrange and give two weeks notice for when we are going to be on site.

A cow peeks out at some of the vegans from inside the slaughterhouse truck (Picture: Ash Sudra Photography/SWNS)

The cows are on their way to the slaughterhouse (Picture: Ash Sudra Photography/SWNS)

‘When we arrive usually at about 8am, we gather outside the slaughterhouse on days when the abattoir is operational for about three hours.

‘We then stop each of the trucks and are given two minutes to say the last goodbye’s before they go and get a bolt gun put through their head.

‘We whisper phrases to them like “we’re sorry”, “we see you” and “I love you”.

‘A whole life is killed for ten minutes of palliative pleasure from a beef burger and we want the public to show compassion to these creatures.’

The 38-year-old former solicitor says the peaceful protests are the best way to spread the message about veganism and animal welfare.

The group say the monthly vigils allow the cows to have their ‘last rites’ (Picture: Ash Sudra Photography/SWNS)

A cow takes one last look at the vegans before being driven to its death (Picture: Ash Sudra Photography/SWNS)

She added: ‘Any social movements have different kinds of action and a lot of vegan groups resort to violence.

‘But we condemn this and the best way is to peacefully spread the message.

‘I am following my heart and these cows deserve compassion and respect just like any other human being.’

Dr Toni Shepard, director of animal welfare campaign group Animal Equality UK, said: ‘The movement have done a lot to draw public attention and are very good that telling people that animals are dying for meat.

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‘It can be certainly stressful for the individuals for the people doing it but for the animals themselves, it depends on how it has done as any loud noises could frighten the animals.’

Foyle Food Group has nine sites across the UK where they slaughter and debone more than 7,500 cattle each week.