In Iowa alone, more than 127,000 turkeys have been culled due to the disease since Oct. The bird flu outbreaks that have plagued commercial poultry operations since 2020 have made matters worse, including its reemergence this fall. Read more: Op-Ed: Embracing a new philosophy that demands dignity and justice for animals The industry now relies on artificial insemination for reproduction, which includes the disturbing and violent practices of “milking” toms and inseminating hens. farmed turkeys, can’t engage in natural behaviors, and they have been bred to grow so fast and large that mating is physically impossible.

A national survey commissioned by the Animal Welfare Institute in 2021, found that 70% of poultry consumers were opposed to denying birds access to the outdoors, and 63% opposed the cutting of turkeys’ beaks and toes without pain relief, common practices used to maximize profitability.įactory-farmed turkeys, which by one estimate account for more than 99% of U.S. The appalling cruelty endured by turkeys and other animals on industrial farms is an affront to our humanity. This Thanksgiving take a minute to consider a healthier and kinder holiday. Disease outbreaks in animals, exacerbated by the stress, overcrowding and irresponsible overuse of antibiotics in factory farming, pose a risk to humans and other animals. While industry and government officials claim that bird flu does not threaten public health, it has infected people, and human cases reported since 2003 have shown a 52% mortality rate.

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