
This BBC article about the culling of 1,000,000 chickens in the UK on one farm says so much about the current state of affairs. Yes, you read it right, that’s 1 million chickens on one farm.
I’d just like to comment on a few key takeaways:
“Elwyn Griffiths, one of the owners, said staff were working as quickly as possible to ensure the welfare of hens on the rest of the site.”
By the welfare of the hens, they mean protecting the stock, keeping them alive so they can be culled for profit later, rather than eradicated to stop the spread of disease now. I’m sure there will be some government funding to cover losses out of taxpayers pockets, but I expect it’s not ideal for business.
“The UK Health Security Agency says avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public's health is very low.”
Yep, nothing to see here; everything is fine! In fact “birdflu” has already jumped to cows, and the first cases of dairy workers becoming infected were logged in the US last year.
Did we all enjoy the pandemic? Good, because the most likely source of the next one is from our industrial animal farming set-up.
"Animal Health Officers will be working on scene to advise flock keepers and members of the public to be alert and take necessary precautions to help prevent the spread of the disease," the county council said.”
Ah yes, “biosecurity” – don’t worry, we’ll contain it. Bio securing the kind of complexes that house 1,000,000 chickens has been shown time and again not to be possible. There are just too many moving parts.
“The Food Standards Agency said bird flu poses a very low risk to UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, remain safe to eat, it added.”
Yes, no need to change your habits here, don’t worry! Keep consuming, that’s the main thing.
“But, the National Farmers Union (NFU) said outbreaks can put huge emotional and financial strain on farming families.”
Especially those poor families with a million chickens.
"Farmers take such care to protect the health and welfare of their birds and it's devastating to see that compromised," NFU poultry board chair, James Mottershead, said.”
Oh, stop it James, I’m tearing up!
If this doesn’t give you pause to consider our current farming practices, I think there’s just something wrong with you. And please don’t hide behind the “free range fantasy”. Regardless of home consumption, if you eat chicken regularly from F & B outlets you are a patron of these kinds of facilities.
The poultry business and government are so mutually beneficially entwined in the business they are not going to change anything. Eating chicken at current volumes is only viable through industrial methods. The solution lies in stopping or reducing consumption. Over to you.
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