While I believe animals are personal property and do not have rights in a constitutional sense, all of the explanations are consistent with normal farm practice. I've personally nutted pigs with razor blade and kerosense. Veterinary practice for docking sheep is contra to homestead practice (I won't go into into). Feeding dead animals to reptiles? Say it isn't so!!
This is being staged like an Onion skit.
That said, I thought this only took place in s**thole countries.
http://www.kcrg.com/content/news/469604593.html