NEWBORN CHICKS CASE
CRIMINAL CHARGES LAID FOR ILLEGAL, CRUEL, HORRIFIC PRACTICE
The Farm Animal Unit of the National Council of
SPCAs (N
SPCA) confirms that criminal charges have been laid against the
farmer whose inhumane manner of killing day-old chicks was exposed on
Carte Blanche on 02 August.
An update on the issue is scheduled to be broadcast on
Carte Blanche on Sunday 16 August.
Killing newborn male chicks is practised in the poultry industry. Males cannot lay eggs and are therefore considered to be of no economic value. There are accepted practices within the industry that dictate how unhatched eggs and day-old chicks are disposed of.
N
SPCA Farm Animal Unit personnel responded to a tip-off alleging that at the Boskop Layer Chickens
farm in Potchefstroom, live newborn chicks were being put into a disused concrete dam – and left to die of hunger, thirst or the effects of the weather. Jan Serfontein, the
farmer, is a former MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and Environment in the
North West
Province.
An urgent and heartfelt appeal is made to the public to support us. The N
SPCA has been asked by individuals what they can do with regard to this horrific case. We ask caring individuals to appreciate that with greater resources – finance in particular – we could extend the number of our responses and also work to uncover and prevent other practices. With increased resources, the Farm Animal Unit could make more routine checks and more random visits.
Donations can be made via
www.nspca.co.za or directly into account 201032015 at the Standard Bank, Alberton with the reference FARM ANIMAL UNIT. Cheques payable to the N
SPCA may be posted to
PO Box 1320, Alberton, 1450.