Ontario Turkey Farm Employees Charged Following Animal Abuse Investigation

Jul 04, 2014

The Ontario Society of the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (OSPCA) has placed 11 charges connected to the alleged animal abuse at one of the country’s top turkey producers, Hybrid Turkeys.

An animal rights group, Mercy for Animals Canada (MAC), released an undercover video in March 2014 at a Hybrid Turkeys farm in Bright, Ont., which shows farm workers abusing the birds. When the farm in question had learned about the misconduct, it immediately fired the perpetrators (five employees) who were identified in the video footage.

Following the release of MAC’s video, the OSPCA launched an investigation jointly with the Ontario Provincial Police and says that it is charging Hybrid Turkeys and the five employees who were involved in the incident.

The 11 charges include: four counts of causing distress by killing an animal in a manner that causes undo suffering, two counts of failing to kill an animal (turkeys) by a method that is humane/minimizes stress or pain, three accounts of permitting distress, one count of failing to provide adequate (medical) care, and one count of failing to provide the care necessary for basic animal welfare.

According to MAC, this is the first time that animal cruelty charges have been laid (in Canada) following the release of one of its undercover video missions. The OSPCA says the first court appearance will be held on August 13, 2014 in Woodstock, Ont.

The Story behind Hybrid Turkeys

Video: Season 6, Episode 12: Veterinarians’ Perspectives on Managing Swine Herd Health Across All Phases

Identifying challenges in swine production and turning them into solutions through research and team development is the focus of this episode. Dr. Christine Mainquist-Whigham of Pillen Family Farms and DNA Genetics shares insights on herd health, biosecurity and trial work to improve pig performance. She also discusses her team’s research philosophy, how they evaluate rate of investment and how they gather feedback from employees to address challenges and maintain herd health across all phases of production. Dr. Carlos Roudergue of Country View Family Farms discusses the growing complexity of swine production, especially as technology increases and employee interaction decreases. He also shares how their workforce is shifting toward more specialized roles to support herd health and efficiency.