22 February 2018
Vegan Australia
Vegan Australia is calling on concerned members of the public to tell a government inquiry into poultry welfare that all farming of chickens and other birds causes them to suffer and so should end.
With over 300 backers so far, Vegan Australia expects over 1000 people will add their names to the submission by the deadline next Monday.
In Australia, over half a billion birds are bred, raised and killed every year for food. Director of Vegan Australia, Greg McFarlane said "This public inquiry gives us a chance to educate the public about the suffering of birds in the poultry industry.
"People are shocked to find out the horror that happens inside those chicken sheds. They discover that no matter what farming 'system' is used, whether caged, barn or 'free range', the chickens all suffer throughout their short lives and they all die in a slaughterhouse at a fraction of their natural lifespan."
The government has called this inquiry in response to public concern about the treatment of chickens. The inquiry report lists many of the horrors suffered by birds in the animal agriculture industry:
- beak trimming without pain relief
- difficulty eating and drinking due to beak trimming
- overcrowding and the pecking and disease this can cause
- unnatural lighting
- induced moulting
- catching, handling and killing by unskilled workers
- living in a dirty environment, with build up of excreta
- lack of freedom
- bare surroundings
- confinement and the bone fractures this can cause
- unnaturally high egg laying rates
- depopulation
- transportation stress
- slaughter at very young age (just six weeks for 'meat' chickens)
- all males in the egg industry are killed shortly after birth, by gassing, being suffocated or being minced alive
"There really is no humane way to breed, raise and kill animals for food." McFarlane said.
The submission by Vegan Australia points out that humans can live happy and healthy lives without consuming animal products. It states that the only way to ensure the welfare of farmed chickens and other birds is to end their use in animal agriculture.
McFarlane added "No regulation of animal farming can ensure the wellbeing of animals who do not want to die."
The proposal is based on the science of animal sentience, environmental science and nutritional science.
To add your name to the Vegan Australia submission, visit www.veganaustralia.org.au/end_poultry_farming.
The deadline for submissions is 5pm Monday 26 February 2018.
Some of the comments left by people signing the submission include:
- "Be kind, leave them all alone, because you can."
- "In a civilised society there is no need to use, abuse and exploit animals."
- "It is not necessary for us to eat animals in order to lead a happy, healthy and fulfilling life, there are millions of vegans who are testimony to that."
- "Animals are known to experience pain and trauma in the same manner that we do."
- "Given the incredible cruelty which chickens undergo, whether for egg or meat production, it would be ethical and appropriate to totally stop the farming of these birds."
- "It's 2018 we have no need to eat animals to survive!"
- "We have enough delicious plant food."
- "Why is ok to do this to animals that cant speak for themselves?"
- "Plant based diets are the future."
- "Compassion over cruelty."
- "Free the chickens."
- "There is nothing nice about any type of chicken or egg farming."
- "A barbaric, unnecessary industry that needs to come to an end."
- "Stop animal exploitation and stop farming animals because it is not necessary for human survival."
- "It's time for humans to evolve and stop exploiting animals. Go vegan. It's easy, healthy and no one has to suffer."
- "Stop it!! Just stop it!"
Fetch high resolution images:
- Dead chick pile - https://www.aussiefarms.org.au/photos?id=961ce3ae36dc380b36b7
- Chicken on truck - https://www.aussiefarms.org.au/photos?id=3eee12a1a5b2e1359876
- Chickens in cage - https://www.aussiefarms.org.au/photos?id=ce431a5fd24b47938515
Sample video of day old chicks being macerated:
- https://www.aussiefarms.org.au/videos?id=99a1846269
More images and videos can be found here:
- https://www.aussiefarms.org.au/photos/food/broilers
- https://www.aussiefarms.org.au/photos/food/eggs
- https://www.aussiefarms.org.au/videos/food/broilers
- https://www.aussiefarms.org.au/videos/food/eggs
- https://vimeo.com/164371192
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