03.16.07
“Should I Eat ‘Humanely Raised’ Meats?”
Ducks in Despair
Hillside Animal Sanctuary conducted an undercover investigation of “humanely” raised ducks at a farm in England. This farm has met the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ humane standards, and is allowed to label their meats with the RSPCA’s “Freedom Food” seal of approval. This label is supposed to ensure that the animals had a good life and were treated humanely.
Were the ducks given a good life? According to the investigators’ report:
We filmed shed after shed where literally THOUSANDS of ducks existed in
unimaginable conditions.The stench of ammonia enveloped hundreds of crippled, blind, injured and dying birds as they were left to linger on for days in the hope that they would draw breath long enough to make it to the slaughter line for that extra bit of profit.
Veterinary surgeon, Amir Kashiv, watched the videos and noted:
Many of the ducks are deformed – especially leg deformities leading to lameness, and many can’t seem able to walk at all – using their wings as crutches which will evidently lead to wing damage too. Other leg lesions and swellings in the limbs are also visible.
One duck is seen dragging a paralysed leg, which seems dislocated and possibly fractured. Other plumage and eye lesions are also visible. Many of the ducks also exhibit signs of nervous system problems: poor balance, can’t right themselves from dorsal recumbancy, apparent blindness.
Watch the video and see for yourself the conditions that “humanely” raised animals endure.
This text was written in 2007 by Freeman Wicklund of FreemanWicklund.org, and it may be freely reprinted or distributed in any e-zine, e-mail, newsletter or blog as long as this sentence and Web link are included.
The Aimster said,
March 17, 2007 at 2:45 pm
If these farm animals are monitored so closely, how can the investigators walk around unseen on so many occasions? I’d love to know the percentage of automation vs. human labor running these types of farming operations.
It is so amazing that people are allowed to get away with this type of stuff, and that all these investigative videos are so well and truly ignored by the press. You would think these videos would be way more of a media goldmine than the death of Anna Nicole Smith. I mean, there’s months worth of muckraking the media could do here, as opposed to just a few weeks for Anna Nicole.
Freeman said,
March 17, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Hey Amy!
To obtain some of the footage, I believe some of the investigators took jobs at the farms. The RSPCA’s response to the situation also leaves one wondering if labels are there to safeguard animal protection, or to appease the conscience of consumers, while helping farmers further market their products.
Here’s what the Guardian said the RSPCA’s response was:
That’s pretty discouraging in itself. But the article also states:
It’s sad, but when animals are treated like commodities, costs will be cut and the animals lose.
Meili Swanson said,
April 5, 2007 at 1:33 am
It’s better just to be vegan.