Chicken farm funded by PIC fails to reverse court order against inhumane practices

Daybreak Foods and the Public Investment Corporation have failed to prove that they should be allowed to continue their chicken breeding operation unsupervised.

The Gauteng High Court on Friday confirmed that the National Council of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCAs) will have the authority to monitor Daybreak’s business until further notice.

The respondents, Daybreak and the PIC, were given the opportunity to reverse an interdict handed down earlier this month ordering the cessation of the inhumane treatment of chickens.

R74 million given by PIC

The court had earlier granted an interdict against Daybreak due to the inhumane culling of the breeder birds, as well as the lack of appropriate food for the chickens.

Breeder birds were being culled by wringing their necks and financial problems at Daybreak left the operation without food for the birds or staff to tend them.

Daybreak denied any wrongdoing, but stated in its answering affidavit that the company was in a “state of disrepair due to financial mismanagement”.

Failure to pay staff led to casual workers being employed, with Daybreak saying that there were no resources to adequately train the casual workers which may have been responsible for the improper slaughter.  

The company argued that any injuries present on the chickens were due to the animals pecking each other, allegedly natural chicken behaviour.

The PIC has given Daybreak R74 million to rectify the situation but it was not enough for the court to rule the situation had been remedied.

Respondents to pay costs

The PIC confirmed earlier in the week that Daybreak had been placed under business rescue and that the company’s board had been reconstituted.

On Friday, the chicken farm and the PIC were required to address an action plan for cooperation with the NSPCA and their adherence to health and safety protocols.

Daybreak and the PIC will be liable for the NSPCA’s legal costs and must provide a remedial timeline to the animal welfare organisation within five days.

Until the NSPCA is satisfied or the parties agree, Daybreak will not be allowed to breed chickens or place hatchlings at any affiliated facilities and must properly care for its existing chickens.

“Our teams were on the ground on the Daybreak farms in Bela-Bela and Mookgopong, Limpopo for 12 days confronting the grim realities these animals endure,” said NSPCA spokesperson Jacques Peacock.

“We will remain vigilant in ensuring Daybreak’s full compliance with the court’s order and will continue to monitor the situation closely.”

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