Dr. Yvonne Vizzier Thaxton is Director of the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Thaxton has written a recent blog that offers her thoughts on the Humane Soceity of the US and recent overtures they have made to US Broiler producers. The following blog was originally published at Meatingplace.Com:
"It seems that HSUS has sent a letter to many CEOs of broiler companies with language noting their victories with layers and swine as well as their intent to now focus on the broiler industry. While I am not surprised at the attitude, I am somewhat flummoxed by their sending such an obvious threat.
"I agree that they have won some major victories. In the case of cage-free at the expense of the animals but nevertheless, the change is now a fact. The swine issue with gestation stalls is also now a fact. So what do they have in mind for broilers? I took a look at their white paper on the topic.
“More than 8.5 billion chickens are slaughtered for meat production in the United States every year. Raised in industrial production systems, these animals experience crowded indoor confinement, unnatural lighting regimes, poor air quality, stressful handling and transportation, and inadequate stunning and slaughter procedures. Because they are selectively bred for rapid growth, broiler chickens are prone to a variety of severe skeletal and metabolic disorders that can cause suffering, pain, and even death. Broiler breeders, the parent birds of chickens raised for meat, are subjected to severe feed restriction, and males may undergo painful toe and beak amputations, performed without pain relief. Scientific research on the behavior and welfare of broiler chickens demonstrates that these are substantial and important issues. Rapid and immediate reform is needed to improve the welfare of chickens raised for meat.”
"That pretty much says it all. And the industry has been warned.
"Apparently in the letter HSUS said they have now “partnered with Perdue.” Earlier this year, Perdue announced plans to switch to gas stunning, eliminating dumping and shackling sensible birds. The company is adding windows and perches to the growing houses. Perdue also indicated the company would study slower growing breeds of birds.
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