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Undercover footage reveals animal abuse at Suffolk farms
RSPCA Assured said it is “shocked and disgusted” by the revelations. (stock photo)
Welfare schemes suspend the farms amid allegations 

Two Suffolk farms have been suspended from high welfare assurance schemes, following the release of undercover footage that shows a range of animal welfare issues and abuse.

The pressure group Animal Justice Project went undercover at Trees Farm and Brome Grange Farm between February and May this year.

As a result of the findings, Trees Farm has been suspended from the RSPCA Assured scheme, which promises higher animal welfare standards. Tesco suspended Brome Farm, which supplies chicken to the retail giant, whilst the Red Tractor scheme has suspended both farms.

Key findings from the investigation include:
  • nearly 500 chicks died in their first week at one of the farms
  • baby chicks were kicked, thrown and had their necks snapped, with one being left to die over eight hours
  • lame and dying birds at the RSPCA-certified farm being left to suffer for days, while workers carry out ‘inadequate’ daily welfare checks in sheds
  • workers breaking the necks of adult birds and throwing them convulsing to the ground
  • a worker urinating into a bucket then throwing live but seriously impaired birds into it hours later
  • food and water contaminated with sodden bedding
  • catching teams cursing, throwing, kicking and slamming birds into crates during catching for slaughter at the RSPCA-certified farm
  • a ‘dilapidated’, sparse and largely concrete range for ‘free-range’ birds on the RSPCA-certified farm, which breaches guidelines.

Responses
RSPCA Assured said it is “shocked and disgusted” by the revelations, adding that the treatment of the animals in the footage is “completely unacceptable”. The group added that it is “deeply sadden[ed]” that one of the farms shown was certified by RSPCA Assured. Trees Farm and the catching team were suspended from the scheme on 21 June for breaching standards. Brome Grange Farm has not been a member of the scheme since January last year.

An RSPCA spokesperson added: “This footage is extremely distressing and we are shocked and disgusted by the behaviour displayed towards these animals. We take all reports of animal cruelty and neglect extremely seriously and we are looking into these upsetting incidents. Our inspectors are liaising with a number of agencies.”

A Tesco spokesperson said: “We expect all our suppliers to meet the recognised farm assurance standards, including Red Tractor certification, as well as our own stringent, industry leading requirements on animal welfare. We have immediately suspended [Brome Grange] farm while we fully investigate and we will continue to engage with the appropriate authorities on welfare standards at the farm.”

A spokesperson for Red Tractor said: "Ensuring Red Tractor accredited farms have high animal welfare standards is a top priority, and we take any allegations of breaches to these very seriously. The farms have been suspended with immediate effect."

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.