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Loading...Abuse at Butterball Turkey Factory Farm
- by Megan Drake
- January 7, 2012
- 11:00 am
Abused turkey at North Carolina Butterball factory farm
MFA Undercover Video at Butterball Disclosed:
“Workers violently kicking and stomping on birds, dragging them by their fragile wings and necks, and maliciously throwing turkeys onto the ground or into transport trucks in full view of company management;
“Employees bashing in the heads of live birds with metal bars, leaving many to slowly suffer and die from their injuries;
“Turkeys covered in flies, living in their own waste, with some unable to access food or water and suffering from severe feather loss
“Birds suffering from serious untreated illnesses and injuries, including open sores, infections, rotting eyes, and broken bones; and
“Severely injured turkeys, unable to stand up or walk, left to die without any veterinary care, because treating sick or injured birds was too costly and time consuming, as the farm manager explained to MFA’s investigator.”
Statement by Butterball
“We are currently working with Hoke County government officials regarding allegations of animal cruelty at a farm in North Carolina.” It goes on to claim that “Butterball has a zero tolerance policy for any mistreatment of our birds or the failure to immediately report mistreatment of our birds by any associates.”
Other MFA Investigations and Results
- Sparboe Farms: 2011- Fifth largest egg producer in U.S.; MFA investigation resulted in McDonald’s, Target, Sam’s Club and Supervalu discontinuing contract with Sparboe
- Iowa Select: 2011 – Iowa’s largest pig factory farm; raised massive awareness of cruelty inherent in how pigs are raised and killed for food in U.S.
- E6 Cattle Co.: 2011 – Texas dairy farm bludgeoning of calves; caused price drop of live cattle and prevented Ag Gag bills from passing
- Catfish Corner: 2010 – Texas fish factory farm documented cutting, slicing, skinning, suffocating and dismembering live and fully conscious catfish; MFA contacted all Texas House and Senate members and introduced bills to outlaw “skinning and dismembering of all live, conscious animals” during the 2011 legislative session
- Buckeye Veal Farm: 2010 – Ohio veal crate and chain methods revealed; Costco adopted policy against using this type of veal production
- Conklin Dairy Farms: 2010 Ohio dairy farm exposed with abject cruelty; farm worker convicted on six counts of animal cruelty and numerous dairy suppliers ended relationship with Conklin
But the investigation at Butterball is significant because the brand name is so well known. Butterball produces more than one billion pounds of turkey annually and has 20% of the U.S. market. John Kivett of the Hoke County sheriff’s office told CNN “No one has been taken into custody. It’s still an ongoing investigation. Nothing has been seized.”
He added “The doctors are checking each bird to see if there are any injuries or sickness in the bird or anything they can visually see,” says Kivett. “They’re doing inspections of each bird and then my investigators are in there documenting any injuries or maltreatment to the animals.” All 2,800 turkeys will be inspected for signs of abuse.
Related Stories:
Big Ag Circles the Wagons Against Activists
Florida’s Ag Gag Bill Reintroduced
Four Calves Saved From Life of Abuse at Texas E-6 Cattle Ranch
Read more: animal cruelty, animal welfare, animals, Butterball, Butterball turkey, factory farm animals, factory farming, factory farms, mercy for animals, MFA, turkeys
Photos of Butterball Factory Farm by Mercy for Animals
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
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196 comments
+ add your ownGO VEGETARIAN OR VEGAN!
Thank you for sharing.
I can fix that fast!
I will not Buy Butterball!!
Anybody else???
Animals and small children are completely dependent on humans for their care. What would God say to these men who are beating these poor turkeys who are obviously in great pain? Why do humans have to be so cruel. Thank you for bringing this to light as I live in North Carolina and just say part of the video and had to turn it off. I believe that people that treat animals like this should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
It takes great bravery to uncover people like this so God Bless You for doing so and fish is a great substitute for chicken or turkey for Thanksgiving!
All of these abusers will find their masters - once they will know.
TY
No animal should have to live like this..its inhumane treatment, they should be able to be free range..not in cages.
With so many unwanted animals there is no excuse for further unnecessary births. It is also imperitive that there is a stop to the inter-breeding of pedigree animals that causes weakness and deformity.
HOooorible. Where will cruelty end???
PROSECUTE those evil people and make the laws stronger to protect the turkeys BOYCOTT BUTTERBALL AND TYSON + there are several more abusive farms..
Questa è gente malata da prendere a calci in culo.
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