Because spent laying hens are worth very little to Canada s poultry industry, not much care is taken the birds fragile bones are often broken upon removal from cages. 1 Meat-type chickens in Canada are confined to sheds that, according to Canadian Professor of Veterinary Surgery Andrew Fraser, expose the animals to extreme suffering. As a result of this, many broiler chicks go unnoticed when they become injured or sick and therefore die without attention. Further, ammonia emitted by the massive buildup of urine and feces in sheds will irritate the birds eyes and upper respiratory tract. 1 Piglets are due for a few unpleasant surprises in the form of minor surgery.
Castration is done because consumers are thought to find the meat of intact males objectionable.
For six months per year, most sows are confined in crates and stalls in which they cannot turn around. The problem is very real. Confinement can also put considerable stress on the legs and hooves of pigs. As a result, lameness and hoof injuries are important problems in some herds. The Canadian pork industry counters that sows must be confined to prevent them from crushing their piglets, but scientific experts say that most crushing occurs in the first few days after birth.