THE government is under pressure to tighten the regulation of abattoirs after it was revealed that a slaughterhouse shut down this week over animal cruelty concerns had passed recent inspections and audits without the practices being detected.

Hawkesbury Valley Meat Processors at Wilberforce has been closed and is subject to an investigation following the airing of secretly filmed footage on ABC TV's Lateline on Thursday of animals being clubbed with an iron bar and repeatedly shocked in the face with electrical prods.

"This is a rogue operation that's in no way compliant with what is expected of abattoirs" ... Peter Day of the Food Authority. Credit:Animals Australia

The plant was subject to two inspections by the regulatory body - the NSW Food Authority - last year, in January and August, and was also subject to two audits, in February and August. One of the audits and one of the inspections were unannounced.