VIDEO: RSPCA CUTS TIES WITH “RUN DOWN” WELSH EGG FARM AMIDST BIRD NEGLECT ALLEGATIONS

Campaign video: https://www.vimeo.com/940758388

Haverford West, May 10, 2024 – RSPCA Assured has suspended a BFREPA Director’s free-range egg farm in Ratford Farm, Portfield Gate, Haverford West SA62 3LT from its scheme [1] after seeing footage of allegedly “neglected hens” and run down living conditions there. 

Animal Justice Project [2] conducted extensive visits to free-range, RSPCA Assured egg farms supplying major UK supermarkets such as M&S, Tesco and ASDA, along with industry leaders like Happy Egg Co and Glenrath Farms, one of the UK’s largest egg producers, between December 2023 and February 2024.

In a shocking revelation, every farm investigated presented scenes of sick, dying, and deceased hens [3]. Veterinary Professor of Animal Welfare, Andrew Knight, who watched the footage, stated he saw: “hens appearing to have been left to die, severe crowding, serious illness, and untreated injuries which would cause serious suffering”.

An RSPCA Assured spokesperson said: “This footage is very distressing to watch and we launched an investigation as soon as we were made aware of it.

“As part of that investigation, RSPCA Assured assessors have made unannounced inspections of the three farms that are members of the RSPCA Assured scheme. We’ve also analysed the footage to identify any breaches of the RSPCA welfare standards.

“We can confirm that we have suspended one of the farms, pending further investigation. This means they cannot market or sell any products under the RSPCA Assured label. Our investigation into the other two farms is ongoing and we are unable to comment further at this time [1].

Animal Justice Project is challenging the egg industry’s practices, particularly regarding the abandonment of birds to perish within their sheds.

The probe, featured yesterday in the Independent [1], closely follows the publication of a recent YouGov poll [4-5] shedding light on consumers’ limited awareness regarding the origins of their eggs. All farms were RSPCA Assured at the time of filming. The charity has now dropped Ratford Farm in Wales [1], where the investigators saw “run-down facilities and instances of neglect”.

A Lincolnshire farm supplying M&S [6-8], Home Farm, Grimsthorpe, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 0ND has also been dropped by M&S [1] boasting RSPCA Assured accreditation at the time of filming [6] and being a trusted supplier for the retailer via Bumble Hole Foods Ltd [6-8], conditions revealed by video footage include trapped hens, dead birds, and distressed animals with splayed legs. One hen found hanging upside down by investigators, struggling to free herself from a hazardous slatted system.

The situation was exacerbated by unsanitary conditions throughout the farm, housing 80,000 birds [9], prevalent within the packing room, where rat poison was haphazardly scattered. Feather loss, decomposing bodies, and overcrowded nesting areas further underscored the dire state of affairs. Despite its RSPCA Assured certification and endorsement as an M&S Select Farm [6], concerns about animal welfare standards within the egg industry are raised.

Similarly, Ratford Farm in Wales, owned by British Free Range Egg Producer Association (BFREPA) Director, Scott Bailey [10-12], exhibited “run-down facilities and instances of neglect”. The sheds, housing over 14,000 RSPCA Assured birds [12-13], were filthy. Dead hens were filmed and one hen had severe diarrhea. No enrichment was seen.

Disturbing conditions were found at Glenrath Farms [14], touted as one of the UK’s largest producers of free-range eggs [15, 16] supplying eggs to supermarkets like Tesco [17 – 20] and Asda [21, 22] [17]. Sick hens exhibited symptoms of severe distress such as twisted beaks, swollen feet, and panting. Numerous deceased hens were scattered throughout the premises. Central nesting areas were deliberately blocked off, and ‘enrichment’ efforts represented by plastic bucket lids and mesh scraps, remained untouched. Prof Andrew Knight noted “environmental enrichment appeared grossly inadequate”.

To compound matters, drone footage revealed birds were denied access to the outdoors for four consecutive days during each visit in February 2024. Over half of the respondents of the February 2024 YouGov Poll [4-5] believe free-range hens have daily access to the outdoors, yet this alarming practice mirrors similar findings unveiled by Animal Justice Project at other free-range farms, raising serious questions about the welfare standards upheld by industry regulators.

In 2022, Karen Campbell won the top award for Outstanding Contribution to the Scottish poultry industry by the Poultry Club of Scotland [14].

At Tesco-supplying [23] RSPCA Assured [24] Hockerwood Park farm in Nottinghamshire, boasting 42,000 hens and serving as the flagship supplier for The Happy Eggs Co [25 – 28], Animal Justice Project documented instances of severe prolapsed cloaca, possible broken wings, and widespread feather loss. Shed floors were littered with dying and decaying birds, with a significant number discovered among the racking system.

Hockerwood Park us heralded as the latest face of Happy Eggs on their YouTube [25], with a multi-channel advertising campaign targeting 96 percent of UK families [29], yet the reality within its facilities paints a grim picture.  Prof Andrew Knight commented on the lack of aerial cover for the hens outside the farm: “Hens able to move outside of free-range barns did not appear to be provided with arial cover. This is necessary as chickens have evolved to be fearful of wide open spaces, due to risk of predation from birds such as hawks and eagles. Hence despite the severe crowding visible inside some sheds, little use was made of the outside runs” Prof Andrew Knight commented.

Prof Andrew Knight concludes: “Numerous hens evidenced serious illness and injuries, that appeared untreated. These conditions would cause serious suffering and sometimes pain. However, no signs of appropriate veterinary care were visible. Instead, numerous hens appeared to have been left to die without intervention”.

Sean Barrs, Animal Justice Project campaigner, says: “We are pleased that RSPCA Assured has dropped Ratford Farm in Wales. It is shocking to think that the owner of this farm, housing a staggering 14,000 birds in run down sheds is a top industry director. Sadly today’s modern egg industry in Britain is heartbreaking and we believe consumers deserve to know. Sick, dying, and live hanging egg-laying hens, crammed by the thousands into huge, factory-style sheds designed for maximum production. Even RSPCA Assured certification fails to shield these birds from suffering. We hope our investigation will help consumers see beyond the glossy egg packaging so that they can choose more ethical, plant-based foods in their diet.”

Animal Justice Project is an animal rights organisation based in the UK with over 200,000 followers and an eight-year history of campaigning to end animal agriculture and exploitation. www.animaljusticeproject.com