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Voice of the voiceless

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)-India has released a comprehensive investigative report looking into the ill-effects of modern chicken and egg production on animal welfare and human health.

The report -- An Assessment of Husbandry, Slaughter, Transport and Health Hazards to Humans in the Indian Chicken Meat and Egg Supply Chain (2007) -- released here on Wednesday documents the scalding, starvation and mutilation of birds as well as the potential for the spread of diseases from chickens to human. Presenting the findings, PETA-India Campaign Co-ordinator Rohini Kamath said: "In 2005, about two billion broiler chickens were slaughtered in India. These birds are crammed by the thousands in dark, filthy sheds, where ammonia from the chickens' accumulated waste actually burns their eyes.'' Quoting experts, the report states that modern meat chickens are pushed to reach their slaughter weight in just 40-42 days and typically the supporting structure of legs, heart and lungs fails to keep pace with the rapidly growing body leading to problems including congestive heart failure and ascites -- a pooling of body fluids in the abdomen. "For many birds, leg problems are so severe that they are unable to reach food and water. During transportation to slaughter -- which involves long rides in all sorts of weather extremes -- broken bones commonly occur. After they arrive at abattoirs, chickens are rapidly and carelessly shackled and hung by their feet from conveyors in mechanised slaughterhouses. Millions are often dumped into scalding-hot de-feathering tanks while still conscious and at small butcher shops, chickens have their throats slit on the floor or butcher's block under unhygienic conditions while other birds watch,'' said Ms. Kamath. The report has come after five years of investigation. "In 2006," Ms. Kamath added, "Indian health officials confirmed the bird flu outbreak among poultry in Nandurbar district. Bird flu can be caught by humans who handle infected birds, and experts fear that the virus will eventually mutate into a form that is transmissible from human to human.'' -- Bindu Shajan

-- Bindu Shajan

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