A Meat and Dairy Article from All-Creatures.org

Animal Outlook's Investigation of Tyson Grower Reveals Mass, Systemic Cruelty

From Karen Davis, PhD, UPC United Poultry Concerns
August 2023

Despite Tyson marketing itself as upholding a “moral or ethical obligation” of “proper animal handling” and claiming to have “zero tolerance to animal abuse,” our most recent investigation, as well as those conducted in 2016 and 2017, show that Tyson’s claim that it cares about its birds is false.

A small, bloody chick with an exposed skull and a severely damaged eye clings to life. Photo/Animal Outlook

Animal Outlook’s investigation, conducted last fall at Jannat Farm in Virginia, documented specific acts of violence, such as workers kicking and throwing birds, and widespread abysmal conditions. Footage shows ill, injured, and deformed birds left to suffer, sometimes for days; food and water deprivation; bug-infested feed and rat corpses; and violations of biosecurity protocols amidst a bird flu outbreak.

Water lines were too high for many young birds to reach, and they can be seen jumping helplessly for water. Food ran out in the chicken houses multiple times. Dead chickens were left to decay in and around feed trays and inside the chicken houses.

The charges against a facility’s owner and manager show that cruelty comes from the top down. Cruelty in animal agriculture is not a story of isolated acts. It is widespread abuse and cruel conditions and practices that are endemic to the industry. It is imperative to stop eating animals to refuse to support this inherently cruel industry.

While charging the facility owner and manager is a big step forward for animals, we maintain that Tyson is also legally responsible for the cruelty we uncovered, as outlined in our detailed memorandum to law enforcement.

Despite Tyson marketing itself as upholding a “moral or ethical obligation” of “proper animal handling” and claiming to have “zero tolerance to animal abuse,” our most recent investigation, as well as those conducted in 2016 and 2017, show that Tyson’s claim that it cares about its birds is false.

A large pile of dead chicks removed from the inside of a chicken house. Photo/Animal Outlook

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