Tortured to death: Current videos that document the poor treatment of chickens and hygienic issues in Styrian fattening farms have sparked a discussion and we have received many inquiries on this topic. We HERE . Now there is also a press release from the Association Against Animal Factory (VGT) on this topic:

Tormented to death: VGT uncovers systematic violations of the law

The image material that the ASSOCIATION AGAINST TIERFABRIKEN recently received and displayed shows everyday operations in a large Styrian chicken slaughterhouse. The scenes from October and November 2022 are shocking due to the rough treatment of animals, animal cruelty and scandalous disregard for hygiene.

Video

Where does the chicken come from? from Association Against Animal Factories on Vimeo .

Chickens brutally killed

Workers were filmed several times throwing chickens against a container in order to break the animals' skulls and necks. This is clearly against the law. An escaped chicken is even kicked against the wall, then brutally hit on a ledge and thrown away. The animal continues to twitch for several minutes. VGT deputy chairman David Richter viewed the videos: In this area, animals are sorted out after anesthesia and thrown away. Some are probably already dead, others obviously not. The brutal violence that is shown in the treatment of the animals here is unbelievable.

Torturous gas anesthesia

The slaughterhouse works with a multi-phase carbon dioxide stunning system – in theory this is sold as an “advanced method”. However, practice shows systematic problems and animal suffering. The chickens are dumped into the system in containers, falling on top of each other and some getting stuck on the flaps. Exposed to the gas, they gasp in panic, shake their heads and flap their wings. David Richter comments: These images from the gas stunning facility are difficult to bear and are probably new to the public. This animal suffering has been hidden until now, but now it can no longer be ignored.

Completely disrespectful treatment of the chicken as a living creature

Workers repeatedly beat stunned chickens for absolutely no reason. The bodies of anesthetized animals are repeatedly used as “cleaning rags” and used to wipe down facilities and clothing. Also questionable from a hygiene perspective: motionless, probably even dead animals are mixed with the living ones before they are anesthetized. David Richter: Mixing dead animals with the living ones instead of sorting them out directly is very questionable from a hygienic point of view. Using stunned animals as cleaning scraps and then processing them further is a scandal from a hygiene AND animal welfare perspective.

Wriggling animals, painful death

Several animals move violently after their necks are cut, flapping their wings wildly. More than 60 such wriggling animals could be counted in the recordings every day. No follow-up anesthesia or any monitoring of the anesthesia's success could be seen in the videos. David Richter comments: We assume that the anesthesia was not sufficient for animals that show targeted defensive and escape movements. So these animals could have been conscious while hanging upside down to bleed to death.

According to its own website, the slaughterhouse bears the AMA seal of quality. The AMA promotes “continuous improvement of quality and transparency throughout the entire manufacturing process”. David Richter: It is doubtful that consumers see these conditions as improved quality.

New petition calls for slaughterhouse reform

On the occasion of this new, shocking revelation, the VGT is starting a new collection of signatures. Comprehensive improvements in the slaughterhouse system and controls are required -> to the petition!

David Richter concludes: We cannot simply stand by and watch this thousands of animal suffering in Austria's slaughterhouses - and the Austrian population certainly cannot either. We call on those responsible in business, trade and politics to finally implement improvements. We expect the authorities to carry out a detailed investigation into the grievances. Consumers bear their share of responsibility: please make conscious, informed purchasing decisions in the supermarket. Think about the animals!

AMA also reacted and published the following statement

The images taken in a slaughterhouse that are currently circulating in the media are disturbing and we strongly condemn this treatment of animals. Each individual company is responsible for correctly complying with the legal requirements. We have asked both the responsible official veterinarian and the business owner to comment and also commissioned an independent inspection body to immediately carry out an on-site inspection.

According to the relevant law (Food Safety and Consumer Protection Act - LMSVG), slaughtering processes such as those shown in the pictures must be monitored by at least one official veterinarian. The official veterinarians are present on site at all times and monitor the entire slaughter process. If legal regulations are ignored during these slaughtering processes, the official veterinarian must stop this, document it and, if necessary, file a report with the district administrative authority or the official veterinarian.

In the present case, it is a Styrian poultry slaughterhouse, so the overarching responsibility of the Veterinary Directorate of the State of Styria comes into play. If you have any questions in this case, you should contact this office.

A slaughterhouse produces for the free market and for various programs, for example for various trade programs and other quality programs. If the slaughterhouse produces AMA quality seal products, it must be a licensee of the AMA quality seal program and additional annual process/system controls are carried out. We check all structural and technical aspects as well as proper compliance with the processes and their documentation.

The pictures clearly show us that, in addition to the unannounced controls, we must continue to focus heavily on prevention, training and raising awareness in the companies. We started a training offensive in January together with the poultry industry and specialist experts and will continue to do so consistently – even more so now. In addition, we are seeking discussions with the highest veterinary authority to ensure how such incidents can be prevented in the future.

Article image and source:
Copyright: VGT.at / ASSOCIATION AGAINST TIERFABRIKEN
The recordings were made available to the VGT anonymously.
AMA: Statement


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