The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) said it plans to pursue full prosecution of state owned Daybreak Farm, for the abandonment, neglect and unnecessary cruelty.
This is after over 200,000 birds, were culled at a Daybreak contract grower, on Wednesday, 30 April 2025.
The birds were over 28 days old but weighed under 700 grams.
The NSPCA said prior to the incident, it had exhausted all avenues of communication, including engaging the farm’s Board and the issuing of an official warning over the denial of feed and the suffering of vulnerable animals.
No action was forthcoming from Daybreak.
On 01 May 2025, Daybreak Foods disclosed they were no longer able to supply feed to its chickens and authorized the NSPCA to dispose of them.
The Veterinary Public Health officials found the birds were emaciated, too small for slaughter equipment.
Nazareth Appalsamy, Senior Inspector at the NSPCA, said “this was one of the most emotionally and physically taxing operations our team has ever faced. We were not there to save lives; we were there to end suffering. And that breaks every one of us.”
The NSPCA said it would be initiating criminal charges under the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962 against Daybreak’s Board of Directors, despite the 300,000 birds saved.
Picture: NSPCA