A photo taken by an animal rights activist investigator purportedly shows the conditions of hens laying eggs at an Oakville farm.
A large poultry farming operation in Oakville and Rochester has launched an internal investigation after its operations came under fire from animal rights activists late last week.
On June 22, Mercy For Animals, a national animal rights group with headquarters in Los Angeles, announced an undercover investigator found animal abuse at Briarwood Farms in Rochester and Oakville.
The allegations include “thousands of hens crammed inside cages unable to freely walk, spread their wings, or rest comfortably, birds trapped in cage wire or under feed troughs, trampled by their cage mates and unable to reach food and water, dead hens, rotted beyond recognition, left in cages with hens still laying eggs for human consumption, and birds with swollen eyes, bleeding prolapses, extreme feather loss and other serious afflictions denied proper veterinary care,” according to a press release from the activist group.
Along with the press release were photos of the alleged abuse and video purportedly taken within the facility.
In a media statement, Mark Oldenkamp, Briarwood Farms vice president of northwest operations, said an internal investigation was launched, and the allegations were not denied.
“Our management team has reviewed the video released by an activist group with footage taken on two of our farms in Washington. We have noted several instances of hen mishandling in the video, and I am deeply disappointed to see those actions,” Oldenkamp wrote in the statement. “This behavior is inconsistent with our expectations for hen care.
“At Briarwood Farms, we are taking this matter very seriously. Upon learning about the video, we immediately began an internal investigation and initiated requests for prompt and rigorous independent reviews. An independent on-farm audit is already underway by a certified auditors for United Egg Producers Certified,” the statement continued. “A poultry extension specialist from Oregon State University, Dr. Jim Hermes, will conduct a separate site visit on Thursday, June 23.”
Briarwood Farms had not responded to a request from The Vidette for a tour of the facility by the time the paper went to press.
The activist group stated the cause of most of the allegations is the cages used at the farm:
“These cages are stacked in tiers inside giant windowless sheds. Egg-laying hens can’t even spread their wings, much less move around without stepping on and climbing over other hens. Denied nearly everything that comes naturally to them, including perching, nesting and dustbathing, these birds never get to see the sun, breathe fresh air or feel the grass beneath their feet.
“Battery cages are so inhumane that they have been banned or restricted in the European Union, California, Michigan, and several other U.S. states.”
According to the activist press release, as well as video from the investigator, the eggs produced at Briarwood Farms were allegedly sold under the brand Eggland’s Best, which is sold at Walmart and Safeway, as well as other large grocery stores.
Eggland’s Best had not responded to a request for comment by the time the paper went to press.
