February 8, 2012

Australian authorities seize malnourished chickens from farms

Australian authorities have seized about 700,000 malnourished chickens from a major poultry producer in Victoria.

Last week, officers from the Department of Primary Industries had raided six broiler farms, all belonging to Melbourne-based company, Tip Top Poultry.

The officers were responding to reports that some of the chickens were not being fed regularly at the farms in northern Victoria, south-west Victoria and West Gippsland.

According to reports, the 700,000 birds seized represented most of the company's total supply.

Some of the chickens had to be put down due to poor health.

The DPI's executive director of Biosecurity Victoria, Hugh Millar, said the seized chickens were now being fed and properly cared for by another major poultry company.

"They will eventually be processed for commercial sale once they have reached the appropriate size and condition," Dr Millar said in a statement today.

He said the birds were disease-free and that the incident was not related to recent disease outbreaks in poultry flocks.

The DPI is investigating whether the company has breached the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Tip Top Poultry could not be reached for comment.