Chickens and Turkeys Subjected to Unimaginable Abuse

​worldanimalnews.com/new-report-reveals-usda-is-failing-9-6-billion-turkeys-chickens-that-are-killed-at-slaughterhouses-each-year-for-their-meat/

A new report released by the Animal Welfare Institute revealed that the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has failed the nearly 9.6 billion chickens and turkeys slaughtered every year for meat. The report brought to light that the USDA only took action to stop documented abuse 14% of the time it was reported leaving hundreds of millions of birds subjected to horrific abuse. In fact, between 2017 and 2019, of the more than 20 "humane" handling violations, the USDA only issued "Letters of Concern" to two of the 16 plants cited. This is improper management that is leaving innocent birds subject to animal cruelty.

When it comes to farm animals, whatever rules there are to protect them from abuse are rarely implemented or followed up which often leaves farm animals subject to abuse outside of the horrific conditions they live in until they are slaughtered. In the case of birds and turkeys, the abuse documented was unimaginable. It included;

• Birds being kicked, thrown, stepped on, and punched
• Birds drowning in scalding tanks
• Birds being disemboweled while still alive
• Birds having their legs ripped off by malfunctioning equipment
• Dead on arrival birds who perished due to the conditions they were transported in
• Improper disposal of live birds, some of which were buried alive under the corpses of dead birds

Animals on factory farms endure significantly shortened lives rampant with abuse and fear. They are kept in gestation crates, unable to turn around or nurture their young. The are kept in tiny cages with barely enough room to move, getting fatter and fatter until their legs cannot hold them up any more. These animals are abused at the hands of handlers who see them as nothing more than trash. As the report indicated, birds were being maliciously abused in several instances without repercussions. When there is absolutely no accountability or oversight, when does the abuse stop? When do those responsible for these instances of abuse face any kind of consequences when the group responsible for overseeing their operations only seems to care 14% of the time?

While it's obvious that hundreds of millions of people consume meat every day, I find it hard to believe that they would be accepting of birds being kicked, punched, or disemboweled while still alive in agonizing pain. I find it hard to believe that anyone out there would be able to witness that sort of abuse and still continue to be supportive of these particular plants. I believe there is a lot of ignorance from the meat eating community in regards to what is happening behind the scenes. I believe it is easy to accept that they are slaughtered, but I highly doubt it would be as easy to accept that they were violently abused prior to being tortured, however hypocritical that may be.

The USDA needs to step up and make the 9.6 billion birds in factory farms across the United States a priority. They need to investigate and follow up 100% of the incidents documented regarding abuse or improper handling. This abuse is rampant across this industry and will not stop unless the USDA takes charge and does their job appropriately. 14% is a fail in any regard and their inactivity is complicity when it comes to animal welfare and the abuse these already exploited animals have to endure.

HAPPY VEG