Australia is consumed at the moment with the issue of live cattle exports to Indonesia following an expose by Four Corners and animal welfare groups of the cruel and barbaric slaughter of the animals in traditional abattoirs. The footage was sickening.
However what seems to go almost unspoken is the absolutely disgusting practices which exist in our own backyard regarding the treatment of chickens, all for the production of the humble egg. Just like cattle, chickens are amongst the most harmless and peaceful creatures. But one of the key differences is that while cattle face a horrific death in Indonesia, at the very least they get to live a relatively comfortable life before hand.
Battery hens have an awful existence from the start. If you could actually see what occurs to these poor animals during their life and leading to their death you may never eat a cage egg again. A few years back i wrote about Pace Farms and their so called "environmental egg", Wattle Ridge. It was a con. Pace are not the only ones engaged in battery hen cage egg production. But they are probably one of more cunning marketers.
Thankfully, some good folk have done a similar expose on Pace Farms as occurred in Indonesia with cattle slaughtering. Remarkably similar. Yet while many countries around the world have moved to phase out battery egg farms, Australia remains mute.
Check out this video. While i don't want to sound preachy, have a good think about what we are doing just to enjoy our poached eggs on a Sunday morning. If the government can act to protect the welfare of cattle in Indonesia, surely they can do something about the welfare of chooks here.
If you must eat eggs, only buy free range and not just barn laid. But be careful. Because there is so little regulation of the industry, some of those that claim to be free range may not be.
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