Every year, millions of turkeys face horrific conditions in factory farms, especially during the holiday season. A groundbreaking undercover investigation by PETA into Aviagen Turkeys, Inc., a major poultry breeding company, revealed disturbing animal abuse, captured in what has become known as the “Peta Turkey Video.” This investigation not only exposed the brutal realities of turkey factory farming but also led to historic convictions for animal cruelty.
In 2008, PETA’s investigator worked undercover for over two months inside Aviagen Turkeys’ factory farms in West Virginia. The findings were appalling. Workers were documented engaging in acts of extreme cruelty towards these vulnerable animals. The “PETA turkey video” footage shows employees stomping on turkeys’ heads and inflicting blunt force trauma, punching and hitting them with tools like spray paint cans and pliers. Turkeys were seen having their heads smashed against metal scaffolding, demonstrating a blatant disregard for animal welfare.
The abuse extended beyond physical beatings. Workers were filmed shoving feces and feed into turkeys’ mouths, and in one horrific instance, holding a turkey’s head underwater. One employee even boasted about using a broomstick to jam down a turkey’s throat. A supervisor admitted witnessing employees killing hundreds of turkeys with 2×4 pieces of lumber. Perhaps one of the most disturbing revelations from the “PETA turkey video” was the testimony of a worker who saw a colleague fatally inject turkey semen and sulfuric acid into turkeys’ heads.
Despite PETA’s investigator reporting these abuses to a supervisor, the response was dismissive, with the supervisor stating such acts happen when workers get “agitated.” Even after PETA alerted Aviagen to the cruelty and the company implemented some new rules, the abuse persisted. Beyond the intentional cruelty captured in the “PETA turkey video,” the investigation also highlighted the routine suffering inherent in factory farming. Beak cutting with pliers, birds collapsing from exhaustion or heart failure due to their rapid growth, and rough handling during transport were all commonplace.
The impact of the “PETA turkey video” was significant. Following the investigation, 23 indictments for cruelty to animals were filed against former Aviagen employees. In a landmark case, three ex-employees were convicted of animal abuse, marking the first time in U.S. history that individuals were convicted for abusing factory-farmed turkeys, with one even receiving jail time.
To prevent animals from suffering for your meals, consider making compassionate choices. Going vegan is the most effective way to ensure you are not contributing to the cruelty exposed in the “PETA turkey video” and across factory farms. PETA offers a free vegan starter kit, recipes, and tips to support your transition to a vegan lifestyle. Make a positive change for animals today.
