NSPCA obtains an urgent interim court order to cease inhumane culling practices
“This is not just a failure of farming practices - it is a collapse of basic ethical standards.”
After an investigation, it seems the inhumane treatment of chickens on Daybreak’s feeder farms has spread to other provinces.
The National Council of SPCA’s (NSPCA) has meanwhile successfully obtained an urgent interim court order from the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Johannesburg, on May 10.
It demanded that Daybreak Foods immediately cease all inhumane culling practices and provide adequate, appropriate feed to hundreds of thousands of breeder birds at their facilities.
This urgent application, launched by the NSPCA on May 9, follows a catastrophic animal welfare emergency unfolding at two of Daybreak’s breeder farms in Bela-Bela and Mookgopong (previously Naboomspruit).
According to the NSPCA, an estimated 594 000 birds were at immediate risk of starvation, suffering from cannibalism, injuries, and prolonged neglect because of insufficient feeding and inhumane culling practices.
Daybreak failed to disclose the conditions at these two remote breeder farms, despite being aware that similar animal welfare collapses had already occurred at their broiler farms in April and May 2025.
“This lack of transparency from Daybreak directly delayed the NSPCA’s ability to intervene sooner. We became aware of the breeder crisis through a whistleblower on May 7, prompting immediate action.
“Without this internal tip-off, the suffering of these animals would have remained hidden.”
The NSPCA furthermore uncovered that Daybreak had deployed untrained casual staff to ‘kill’ compromised breeder birds by violently swinging them by the head – a method both inhumane and illegal.
Unlike smaller broiler birds previously involved, breeder birds weigh between 3.5kg and 5kg, rendering standard cervical dislocation methods ineffective and deeply traumatic to the birds.
Despite previous interventions, Daybreak has failed to take meaningful corrective action.
Streeknews reported in February about chickens on a Daybreak broiler farm in the Delmas area, where 210 000 chickens were starving and ultimately resorted to cannibalism.
The SPCA in Springs and NSPCA intervened at the time.
The NSPCA has stated that despite previous interventions, Daybreak has failed to take meaningful corrective action. The organisation was, therefore, left with no choice but to turn to the courts for immediate relief.
The order, granted by the high court, instructs Daybreak immediately to stop all inhumane culling methods; provide adequate, species-appropriate feed for all birds; cease all breeding and placement of chicks or birds at affiliated facilities; and provide a timeline and strategy to address and resolve this ongoing crisis.
The court also confirmed the NSPCA has unfettered access to Daybreak’s facilities.
“This is not just a failure of farming practices – it is a collapse of basic ethical standards,” said Nazareth Appalsamy, senior inspector.
“The breeder birds are not only starving, they are suffering immensely. Daybreak must now comply with the law or face contempt of court.
“The NSPCA has deployed its entire inspectorate to the affected breeder sites to alleviate the suffering of compromised birds and ensure they carry out humane interventions. This deployment is logistically and emotionally taxing, particularly given the sheer number and size of the animals involved,” read a media statement released by the NSPCA on May 10.
At the time of going to print, the NSPCA would return to court on May 13, where Daybreak had to explain why the relief should not be made final.
“The NSPCA remains committed to upholding its mandate to protect all animals in South Africa and will continue to monitor Daybreak’s compliance with the court order. This crisis places a significant financial burden on the NSPCA.
“As an NPO, the cost of mobilising staff, transport, equipment, and resources for an operation of this scale is immense, yet necessary to prevent unimaginable suffering.”
The NSPCA urgently appeals to the public and private sector to support them by donating via EFT to Standard Bank account 220 639 744 (branch code: 051 001).
Streeknews contacted the NSPCA to get an update on the current situation in the Delmas area, but at the time of going to press, had no response.
