Victory: Veterinarians Reject Starving Hens
The
AVMA Votes to Oppose Forced Molting
The American
Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), having long promoted the cruel practice
of withholding food and water from hens so that the birds lose their feathers
and are shocked into a new cycle of egg-laying, have voted to oppose withholding
food from the birds. The vote comes after a campaign against their support for
inhumane practes.
Unfortunately, they still endorse other cruel
practices like gestation crates. We will contine to pressure them to do the right
thing. Thanks for all your help.
The AVMA repeatedly lets animals
down by stacking advisory committees with agriculture-industry veterinarians with
reputations for opposing welfare improvements. As veterinarian Dr. Peggy Larson
put it, “[M]ost of the association’s policies promote animal industries
at the expense of … animal welfare, including promoting practices that cause
great harm, pain and unplanned death.” Among the inhumane practices they
have supported are forced molting -- starving hens for up to weeks to increase
egg production -- and gestation crates for pregnant sows, so small the pigs cannot
move more than a step for nearly their entire lives.
Both of
these practices have been banned in Europe. Voters in Florida recently passed
an initiative banning gestation crates by an overwhelming majority. The Canadian
Veterinary Medical Association has a strong position statement against forced
molting. Even the three giant fast-food chains McDonald’s, Burger King, and
Wendy’s have stopped their suppliers from using forced molting. But the AVMA
has continued to endorse these abuses.
