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Rights Group Films Workers Grinding Chicks Alive

Animal rights group uncovers disgusting practices at Iowa egg hatchery

By the Associated Press

Posted Sep 1, 2009 2:08 PM CDT

(AP) – An undercover video shot by an animal rights group at an Iowa egg hatchery shows workers discarding unwanted male chicks by tossing them live into a grinder, and other chicks falling through a sorting machine to die on the factory floor. Chicago-based Mercy for Animals said it shot the video at Hy-Line North America's hatchery in Spencer, Iowa, over a two-week period in May and June.

Hy-Line said the video "appears to show an inappropriate action and violation of our animal welfare policies," referring to chicks on the factory floor. But the company also noted that "instantaneous euthanasia"—a reference to killing of male chicks by the grinder—is a standard practice supported by the animal veterinary and scientific community. According to Mercy for Animals, male chicks are of no use to the industry because they cannot lay eggs and do not grow large quickly enough to be raised profitably for meat.

A screenshot from Mercy for Animals video taken at Hy-Line Hatchery in Iowa.
A screenshot from Mercy for Animals video taken at Hy-Line Hatchery in Iowa.   (Mercy for Animals)
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A video of chicks being thrown into a meat grinder at an egg-laying breed hatchery Hy-Line International in Spencer, Iowa.   (mercyforanimals)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 50 comments
cognitivefilter
Sep 3, 2009 12:51 PM CDT
still FUCKING GROZZ
usualsuspects
Sep 2, 2009 12:42 PM CDT
ithurman: If you just jumped into a giant grinder, your death would be pretty damn instantaneous, I would think. But it's still pretty fucked up, there has to be a better way.
WallyEFunk
Sep 2, 2009 12:11 PM CDT
Their animals that are a food source....Sound quick fast. NOT my favorite way.I can only guess the best way @ this time. What's there solution? Only thing I need to know.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

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