Mainland Poultry respond to DAA video allegations / Supplied by Mainland Poultry.
A surprise inspection of a Whangarei chicken farm by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and an internal investigation by Mainland Poultry has found the site raises no animal welfare concerns.
MPI's unannounced visit at Forest Hill Farm was prompted by a story in the Herald which included footage taken by an animal welfare group, a Ministry spokeswoman said.
The footage showed dead hens on the ground, mice running about the laying hens' shed and chickens missing feathers.
MPI spokesman Brendon Mikkelsen confirmed the Ministry had visited the farm on Monday unannounced.
The Ministry had also arrived for a scheduled quarterly inspection in recent weeks.
Direct Animal Action (DAA) activist Dee Sims said she found MPI's finding "quite shocking".
"We saw dead hens floating in a cesspit, we saw mice running through cages, hens looking in very poor condition. Unless that's standard practice I'm shocked they found no animal welfare concerns.
"I guess they have different definitions of what's fine."
Animal activist Dee Sims said she found MPI's finding there were no animal welfare concerns "quite shocking". Photo / Direct Animal Action
Mainland conducted its own internal inspection following the release of the footage, with a senior livestock manager going to the farm the day after the company was made aware of concerns about the welfare of hens.
In its own video, Mainland technical services manager Lorna Craig said DAA's footage had made her feel angry and that she cared deeply about animal welfare.
"Our stockmen, our managers really care and take pride in what they do and I know they all found it extremely upsetting, the video footage they watched last week."
The livestock manager and Avivet veterinarian Dr Neil Christensen both found the hens on site to be in condition, a Mainland spokeswoman said.
Avivet provides impartial veterinary and animal health advice for poultry and game bird farmers.
Christensen conducted inspections of Mainland's farms annually, the spokeswoman said.
"Christensen found no animal welfare issues and stated that the hens are being treated with an acceptable level of care and that they are in a good condition."
Commenting on the fact that some hens in the video had featherless patches, Dr Christensen said feather loss is normal for birds, even ones in free-range living conditions.
Independent avian vet Dr Neil Christensen said some feather loss was usual for chickens. Photo / Direct Animal Action
He confirmed rodents were a problem, as highlighted in the video, but noted pest control seemed to be at a higher level than other farms.
Mainland's spokeswoman said this was because the company was aware of the problem and was working to keep on top of the issue.
"Rodent control is more difficult on this site, given its age and location within surrounding bush," she said.
"The pest control operator Ecolab provides weekly pest control services at the farm."
She said it was unclear how dead birds had ended up in a manure pit, as seen in DAA's video footage.
"We have not seen any evidence of this prior to what was found on the site following the DAA break-in.
"However, we are owning this issue and have taken immediate steps to block off this area, remind all staff of our correct procedures around disposal of dead birds and provide refresher training."
Mainland Poultry said they did not know how dead chickens ended up in a manure pile but were "owning" the situation and had given staff refreshers on procedure. Photo / Direct Animal Action
Mainland has refreshed its staff training despite being satisfied with the investigation, reminding workers to follow proper procedure, she said.
"We will ensure that animal welfare remains a paramount consideration until this farm is fully decommissioned next year.
"The farm is already being phased out, with the last new hens being brought to the facility by the end of the November."
The spokeswoman said a proposed farm at Orini in the Waikato, which DAA opposes Mainland getting consent for, would be "100 per cent cage free".
"The system planned for Orini is a system called aviary which is cage free," she said.
"They are used extensively in free range sheds as well as what is commonly referred to as 'Barn' systems."
