Farmed
Animal Watch
A Project of Animal Place
December 3, 2003
(To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Number #37 Volume 2
CONTENTS
1. Turkey Intelligence
2. Well Ex-cuse Me for Living!
3. Turkey Adoptions
4. Thanksgiving with Turkeys
5. Thanksgiving Without Turkey
6. Virtual Turkey Production Tour
7. Changing Forces in the U.S. Turkey Trade
8. Killing Turkeys in Barron County
9. International Animal Rights Day
1. TURKEY INTELLIGENCE
In response to disparaging remarks made in the media about turkeys, Oregon
State University poultry scientist and animal science professor Tom Savage
says "They have no idea what they are talking about." He attributes
the awkward appearance and peculiar behavior of domestic turkeys to the
selective breeding they have been subjected to for meat production. As an
example of their intelligence, Savage points out the sociability of the birds,
noting that they will play together with an apple "kind of like
football." Regarding the myth that turkeys are stupid enough to drown in
the rain, Savage and his colleagues at OSU discovered a genetic condition
called tetanic torticollar spasms that afflicts some turkeys. It causes them
to act abnormally, sometimes cocking their heads and staring at the sky for 30
seconds or more. (See:
http://tinyurl.com/xd82
) "It's an example of how a misunderstood animal behavior becomes
identified as proof that the animal is extremely lacking in
intelligence," Savage notes.
The New York Times ran 4 letters in response to the Nov. 24th op-ed,
"About a Turkey" (see item #3:
http://tinyurl.com/xn2e
). All were generally favorable toward the piece but Karen Davis, president of
United Poultry Concerns disputes author Patrick Martins's assertion that
"every bit of natural instinct and intelligence has been bred out of
these turkeys, so much so that they are famously stupid." Davis, who has
been caring for turkeys for 13 years, contends they are "sensitive
intelligent and alert." Noting that most turkeys are subjected to an
impoverished environment, physical afflictions and other assaults to their
welfare, she urges readers to remember that "Environment plays a key role
in eliciting expressive behavior in birds as well as in humans."
2. WELL EX-CUSE ME FOR LIVING!
In a Rose Garden ceremony on November 24th, President Bush
"pardoned" two turkeys, Stars and Stripes, sending them to live out
the rest of their lives at Frying Pan Park, a Virginia farm and petting zoo: (
http://tinyurl.com/xf8u ).
Representatives of the National Turkey Federation presented the President with
the birds at the "Annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Pardon." In
his popular "Give Me a Break" segment, ABC News commentator John
Stossel again took the annual ritual to task (see item #2:
http://tinyurl.com/xdr9
), explaining that most of the turkeys only survive for a few months more.
"We usually just find ‘em and they're, they're dead," a Park
employee told him. She further explained: "Their flesh has grown so fast
and their heart and their bones and their other organs can't catch up."
In February, PETA found Katie, one of the turkeys from last year's ritual,
living "alone in a 10-by-10 (foot) shed with no way to keep warm, no
mental stimulation, not enough straw to build a nest, and shivering in the
cold." Zach, the other turkey, had already died. The Park agreed to
provide Katie with enough straw to build a nest, a bale to roost on, a heated
barn in the winter, a tree, adequate exercise, chicken companions, and a
varied diet. In 1997, United Poultry Concerns found debeaked chickens infested
with lice and mites at the Park, and neglected turkeys living there in dirty
conditions. At that time, the Park agreed to stop debeaking birds and improve
hygiene, sanitation, and nutrition for them. See:
http://tinyurl.com/xexh
In an opinion piece published by Knight Ridder Tribune, PETA's Joe Haptas
said the ritual "is an apt symbol for America's profound disconnect with
the animal kingdom." He urged Americans to consider the plight of the 275
million turkeys killed in the U.S. for food each year:
http://tinyurl.com/xfsr
ESPN Outdoors writer James A. Swan pointed out in his column that in addition
to the "pardoned" turkeys, the National Turkey Federation also
provides a dead bird for the President's dinner. Swan, the author of "In
Defense of Hunting," continues his year-old campaign for the President to
release a wild turkey rather than "pardon" a domesticated one:
http://tinyurl.com/xfw0
"Thanksgiving at the White House," The White House, November 24,
2003.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/holiday/thanksgiving/
"Fowl Play? Are Presidential Turkey Pardons a Hoax?" ABC News, John
Stossel, Nov. 28, 2003.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/2020/GiveMeABreak/Give_Me_A_Break_031128-1.html
"Turkey Dilemma," Town Hall, John McCaslin, March 12, 2003.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/johnmccaslin/jm20030312.shtml
3. TURKEY ADOPTIONS
During its 17-year history, thousands of people have participated in Farm
Sanctuary's Adopt-A-Turkey Project (see item #8:
http://tinyurl.com/xhkf
) and hundreds of turkeys have been adopted. Some people have provided homes
for the birds while others sponsor turkeys living at one of the organization's
two sanctuaries. All of the birds were formerly abandoned, neglected and/or
abused. "Turkeys are very affectionate and enjoy human
companionship," says Lorri Bauston, Farm Sanctuary's executive director.
According to Mike Halvorson, the president of the North Dakota Turkey
Federation, farmers don't view programs such as this to be a threat to turkey
consumption. "Where we get concerned or it starts to bother us is when it
starts to put us in a bad light," he explains. More information on the
program can be found at:
http://www.adoptaturkey.org
4. THANKSGIVING WITH TURKEYS
On November 22nd, about 200 people celebrated an early Thanksgiving at Poplar
Spring Animal Sanctuary in Poolesville, Md. (see item #10 of:
http://tinyurl.com/xhno
&
http://www.animalsanctuary.org
), some having come from as far away as New York and Delaware. It was the 7th
year the sanctuary held the event. Home to hundreds of animals, the
sanctuary's celebration this year was held in honor of its 5 turkey residents:
Ann Marie, Eliot, Gobbles, Gertrude and Olivia. Ann Marie found herself at the
sanctuary after a Poplar Spring supporter asked her employer for a live turkey
as a Christmas bonus instead of a frozen one. Olivia is a survivor of North
Carolina's Hurricane Floyd. Eliot, Gobbles, and Gertrude were removed from a
cage behind a Washington, D.C. restaurant where they were being fattened for
slaughter in violation of D.C. law. All of the turkeys were treated to fruit,
seeds, lettuce and breadcrumbs. The human participants enjoyed a bountiful
vegan potluck and discussed what they would eat in place of turkey on
Thanksgiving Day.
In the midst of a rural region dominated by the poultry industry, Maryland's
Eastern Shore Sanctuary and Educational Center (
http://www.bravebirds.org
) is home to chickens, ducks and Cara, a turkey. Many of the chickens were
found on highways after having fallen from trucks headed to slaughterplants,
most of the hens are from a shut-down egg operation. Some of the roosters were
confiscated from cockfighting operations, while some of the other birds
escaped being slain in religious rituals. Cara (Irish for "friend")
arrived with a number of ducks and hens who were slated for slaughter. The
feathered residents feasted on pumpkin pie, turnip greens, applesauce and
other treats during the Sanctuary's annual alternative Thanksgiving feast for
the birds. Pattrice Jones, the sanctuary co-founder, explains why an
alternative to the traditional Thanksgiving celebration is needed for ethical,
environmental, health and social justice reasons.
5. THANKSGIVING WITHOUT TURKEY
Popular alternatives to turkey meat include Tofurky, Tofu Turkey and Unturkey.
Some companies package complete dinners, such the Tofurky Vegetarian Feast
which comes with gravy and giblets (diced Tofurky cubes), apple potato
cranberry dumplings, herbed brown and wild rice stuffing, and a "wishstix,"
made of soy jerky. Turtle Island Foods expected to sell 150,000 boxes of its
Tofu Roast dinner this year, an increase of more than 20% from last year. Some
people prefer to create their own entree, with nut and grain roasts in place
of a turkey.
6. VIRTUAL TURKEY PRODUCTION TOUR
Norbest Inc. offers visitors to its website a virtual tour of one of its
turkey operations. The tour includes photos of a turkey hatchery, "growout"
facilities, a free-range farm, and a slaughterplant. The site also contains
turkey facts, agricultural facts, and a "Fun and Games" section.
http://www.norbest.com/a_turkey_tour.cfm
7. CHANGING FORCES IN THE U.S. TURKEY TRADE
About 25% of all the turkey meat consumed in the U.S. is eaten between
Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Turkeys have been bred for "huge,
unnatural, outsized breasts" since the white flesh of the breast is the
most profitable. [The genetic changes were largely the result of USDA research
(Scroll down to "The First Small Turkey":
http://tinyurl.com/xkrw
)] The "Broad Breasted White" (BBW) turkey is by far the predominant
type of turkey. However, there is a small but growing interest among consumers
for meat from older "heritage" breeds (see item #3 of:
http://tinyurl.com/xn2e
). These turkeys grow poorly in intensive production conditions. They require
about 24 weeks to reach slaughter weight in comparison to the 12-14 weeks
required for a BBW turkey. The demand for them could not be met this year
although they sold for about 3 times the price of a premium BBW turkey. Steve
Bjerklie, editor of Meat Processing magazine, writes: "To the extent that
meat and poultry processors continue to assume price is the only driver of
food-purchasing decisions, they're very, very mistaken."
Springfield Farm, in Sparks, Md., raises alternative breeds of turkeys and
other farmed animals on pasture. The farm is open to the public, and in
September it was toured by board members of the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS).
Unlike conventional production, the turkeys at Springfield Farm do not have
their beaks or toes partially amputated. According to HSUS's Michael Appleby,
these practices are not considered humane and cutting off part of a turkey's
beak is more like cutting off the tip of a human's finger rather than merely
the fingernail. Fights among the freely ranging birds are rare and
short-lived. Owner David Smith finds their company to be therapeutic,
and he enjoys sitting amongst them. They are transported to Eberly Poultry
plant in Lancaster County, Pa., the largest organic-poultry operation in the
country, to be slaughtered. Although birds are not covered by the "Humane
Slaughter Act," at the Eberly plant, a "worker stuns each bird
unconscious with a hand-held electric prod" prior to slitting their
throat.
"Steve Bjerklie Looks at the Changing Forces in the U.S. Turkey
Trade," Meat News, Perspective, Steve Bjerklie, December 2, 2003.
http://www.meatnews.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&artnum=6575
"Home Before the Holidays," The Baltimore Sun, Arthur Hirsch,
November 26, 2003.
http://tinyurl.com/xl92 or
http://www.sunspot.net/entertainment/dining/bal-fo.turkey26nov26,0,2466618.story?coll=bal-features-specials
8. KILLING TURKEYS IN BARRON COUNTY
Barron County, Wisconsin prides itself for its turkey (and dairy) production,
and the annual slaughter of 4 million turkeys (
http://tinyurl.com/xlp0
). In August, 3 boys broke into a barn on a farm there and fired 400
pellets from a high-powered rifle, killing more than 100 turkeys and injuring
others. Jennie-O Turkey Store later killed the entire flock of 11,000 birds
whom they said could not be used for human consumption due to possible
contamination by lead shot. The boys, ranging in age from 14 to 16, were
vacationing from Minnesota, Illinois and Virginia. On September 23rd, all
three pled guilty to felony mistreatment of animals. They were placed under
juvenile supervision and ordered to pay thousands of dollars in restitution (
http://tinyurl.com/xlhr
). The case is similar to an Iowa incident in which 2 teens broke into a barn
and beat nearly 100 turkeys to death. However, no animal cruelty charges were
filed in that case (see item #7:
http://tinyurl.com/xlkz
).
In another Barron County case, 5 students stole turkeys, decapitated them
inside their high school and "turned the turkeys loose, creating an ugly
mess" (
http://tinyurl.com/xlr1 ).
In 1999, a golfer jumped a Barron County farm fence and lopped the heads off
of more than 160 turkeys. It was the 3rd such incident in the county within a
year. In 2001, a Barron County 4-H Statewide Invitational Shoot used chicken,
pig, turkey and ram silhouettes as rifle targets:
http://tinyurl.com/xlsq
9. INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL RIGHTS DAY
Candlelight vigils will occur in countries around the globe on December 10th
in observation of the 6th International Animal Rights Day. Uncaged Campaigns
is coordinating the events which are intended to pay tribute to the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and call for the principles of the Declaration to
be extended to include all sentient beings. For more information visit:
http://www.uncaged.co.uk/iard.htm
