This is the time of year when Christians particularly celebrate the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel, “God with us”. But many Christians, when speaking on the subject, instead begin by remarking on how much they enjoy the taste of turkey.
And this is not just an occasional digression, but occurs so often that one could mistakenly think it to be an essential part of christian teaching
This is unfortunate, because in so doing not only do the speakers risk losing the interest of those in their audience who are aware of the cruelty inflicted on turkeys bred for christmas dinners, but they also expose christian teaching to a charge of inconsistency; how can a celebration of The Prince of Peace be associated with so much unnecessary suffering?
And this is not the only problem with the production of christmas turkeys. The farms industrial units are breeding grounds for bird flu and antibiotic resistant bacteria which pose a risk of global pandemics and are a serious threat to human health
I wrote a Piece about this in 2021 [1]. Little has changed since then.
Hang on, I hear you say, Isn’t it a bit extreme to use the word ‘cruel’ when talking about a christmas dinner? Well, let’s have a look in more detail about how the turkey gets to the dinner plate.
The life of a turkey
In the wild these intelligent and social birds live in groups of about twenty individuals for up to 10 years [2]. They establish a pecking order which gives structure to the group.
They are sentient, which means they have the capacity to experience feelings and sensations, and to have some cognitive abilities
They can also bond closely to people. In Consider the Turkey, they are described as smart and sociable companions. [3]
However, most turkeys in the UK are reared in intensive factory units, some holding up to 25000 birds [4]. They are Packed in tightly; an unenforced government guideline suggests a 16cm square for each kilogram of bird in broiler-type housing [5, para 34]. Weaker birds are unable to escape from other birds pecking and many are injured or killed.
In order to mitigate this behaviour, parts of their beaks and toes are cut off from these sentient birds without anaesthetic, euphemistically described as trimming [5, para 49]
The birds are selectively bred for large weight, ready for slaughter within six months, in contrast to a natural life span of 10 years. Their immature legs barely able to support the unnatural weight develop painful leg and joint conditions. Birds, unable to stand must sit in their faeces, developing abscesses and burns on their skin
When sheds are not cleaned the buildup of ammonia from uncleared faeces is oppressive. Workers can only remain in the sheds for a short time. The birds must endure the foul conditions continuously.
The selectively bred turkeys have a ferocious appetite that drives their rapid growth. Birds which are set aside to lay eggs cannot be allowed to grow as large so feed supply is severely restricted and they remain ravenously hungry – by design [6]
At the end of rearing they are caught, put into crates, and then transported, often with a risk of bone fractures and breaks, dislocated hips and bruising [7]
The process of slaughter is terrifying for the birds hung upside down and electrocuted
Mental Health of Workers
Slaughter house workers have been found to exhibit symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have a higher prevalence rate of mental health issues, in particular depression and anxiety [8]
Biodiversity Loss and Climate Breakdown
Over the past 50 years, these industrial units, also known as Concentrated Animal Feed Operations (CAFOs) have multiplied, increasing the import of soy and grains from countries where rainforest is being cleared to grow food for animals [9], contributing to biodiversity loss and climate breakdown. In many ways the taste of turkey is chipping away at a viable planet.
Bird Flu
Bird flu is currently infecting farm based and wild bird populations throughout the world. More than 100 million birds have been called since 2022 [10]
Bird flu can spread quickly through a barn full of turkeys. If detected in a single bird the entire flock must be immediately killed. In the US a method named Ventilation Shutdown, VSD+, can be used in which the vents to the barn are closed to stop air flow and the barn is heated. The birds can take up to three hours to die. This has been outlawed in the UK and EU, but the alternatives are still very distressing for the birds and include Carbon Dioxide gassing.
Factory farms, where there can be close and regular contact between workers and infected birds obviously increase the risk of human infection
“As of June 2024, there is concern about two subtypes of avian influenza … both have jumped to humans with relatively high case fatality rates” [11]
Clearly an effective step to reduce infections of bird flu and risk of transfer to humans would be to close down all poultry factory farms, but the demand and profits from christmas turkeys are part of the reason this is not happening.
Conclusion
This post has described the appalling lives and deaths of most farm bred turkeys.
“Most people in the UK would not regard the practices described here as acceptable, but by buying and consuming turkey products, they are complicit in them” (adapted from Peter Singer).
The consequent growth of antibiotic resistance and bird flu outbreaks are a serious health risk to humans
This is not saying that people cannot eat turkey; vegans should not tell people what they can and cannot eat; rather we should be listening, discussing the issues, and helping to make informed choices. But in my opinion the evidence is overwhelming.
“What, then, will you eat at whatever holiday feast you celebrate? The simplest option is to ditch the animal centerpiece, but keep all the trimmings, which for many people is the best part of the meal anyway” [12]
The amazing turkey is a part of God’s world. Now is the time to respect and value all life that God gives, including the humble turkey.
References
[1] A Turkey is not just for Christmas
https://www.veganpieces.org/animal-welfare/a-turkey-is-not-just-for-christmas
[2] Nothing To Gobble At: Social Cognition in Turkeys
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/thoughtful-animal/nothing-to-gobble-at-social-cognition-in-turkeys
[3] Consider the Turkey
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2010/11/consider-the-turkey/66967
[4] UK turkey factory farming : Selective Breeding
https://www.veganfoodandliving.com/why-vegan/animal-impact/uk-turkey-factory-farming-facts
[5] Codes of recommendations for the welfare of livestock – turkeys
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/poultry-on-farm-welfare/turkeys-welfare-recommendations
[6] The Effects of Restricted Energy Feeding
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579119544236
[7] Carrying chickens by their legs should remain unlawful, say UK campaigners
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/27/carrying-chickens-by-legs-remain-unlawful-brexit
[8] The Psychological Impact of Slaughterhouse Employment: A Systematic Literature Review
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/15248380211030243
[9] DEFRA UK Food Supply Sources
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/united-kingdom-food-security-report-2024/united-kingdom-food-security-report-2024-theme-2-uk-food-supply-sources
[10] Why the latest bird flu case has experts worried about a potential pandemic
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bird-flu-pandemic-potential
[11] Wikipedia : Avian Influenza
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avian_influenza
[12] Consider The Turkey, Peter Singer, p81 Kindle Edition
https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Peter-Singer/Consider-the-Turkey/3017414
