Date Posted: 25 May 2005
Animal Campaigners Target Battery Hen Farm
Animal rights campaigners have staged a six-hour sit-in at a NSW battery hen farm in protest at the conditions under which the birds are kept.
The 30 Animal Liberationist protesters agreed to leave a shed at the Pace Farm-owned egg-laying facility at Buchanan, in the Hunter Valley, when company representatives said they would allow independent vets to inspect the farm.
The protesters arrived at the site about 4am (AEST) and stayed until 10am.
Animal Liberation executive director Mark Pearson said the protesters were trying to highlight the cruel living conditions of battery hens.
He said the farm would be inspected by a vet chosen by Animal Liberation, a Pace Farm senior vet as well as RSPCA and Department of Primary Industries vets some time over the next two weeks.
"We're trying to keep pushing the issue that the veterinary science is overwhelming that the birds suffer immensely," he said.
Pace Farm spokeswoman Kerri-Anne Isemonger said the company was happy to allow outside vets to visit the farm.
"We're happy for our vet to walk through with their vet," she said.
However, Ms Isemonger said the protesters had breached the farm's biosecurity measures and possibly threatened the health of the hens by invading the shed.
She said she did not understand what concerns Animal Liberation had about the treatment of the hens.
About 20 Animal Liberationist protesters also demonstrated against the battery hen industry outside Parliament House in Sydney today.
http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1260&storyid=3181092
