Starving, Cannibalizing Chickens Euthanized as South African State-Owned Poultry Firm Collapses

In a deeply disturbing development that has rattled South Africa’s agricultural and food sectors, more than 350,000 chickens were euthanized by hand after they were left starving and cannibalizing each other at several sites operated by Daybreak Foods, a state-owned poultry supplier.

The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) said its officers were first alerted to the crisis on April 30. What followed was a week-long emergency response that revealed shocking animal cruelty due to financial mismanagement.

“It was a harrowing scene,” the NSPCA said. “Skeletal chickens huddled together, chickens eating one another, feeding lines stripped bare.”

The chickens belonged to Daybreak Foods, a company owned by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), which manages South Africa’s state assets. According to reports, the company was unable to afford feed delivery, causing animals at multiple sites in northern South Africa to be left without food for more than a week.

Cannibalism and Culling

When NSPCA officers reached the farms, many chickens were already dead. The mass cannibalism had made it impossible to determine the full scale of deaths. Roughly 350,000 birds had to be euthanized one by one over a six-day operation, involving more than 75 animal protection officers.

An additional 500,000 chickens were saved, the organization said.

Nazareth Appalsamy, manager of the NSPCA’s farm animal protection unit, said the emotional toll on his team was profound:

“Culling took a real toll on the staff, being exposed to such extreme measures.”

Legal Action Looms

The NSPCA has vowed to file a legal case against Daybreak Foods under South Africa’s animal protection laws. The group condemned the company’s abandonment of its basic duty to care for livestock.

Daybreak Foods was reportedly denied permission to send the malnourished birds to slaughterhouses due to their undersized condition. The company did not immediately respond to media requests for comment. However, a spokesperson, Nokwazi Ngcongo, told Daily Maverick that feed supply was interrupted by “financial challenges” and claimed efforts were made to reduce animal suffering.

Government Response

The South African government acknowledged the severity of the situation and confirmed ongoing discussions with Daybreak Foods’ leadership. The crisis casts a harsh spotlight on state asset mismanagement and its consequences for animal welfare and food security.

Daybreak Foods, once a prominent name in poultry supply, is now under intense scrutiny—not only for its financial troubles but for the devastating ethical and operational failures that followed.

Industry and Ethical Ramifications

This incident raises broader questions for South Africa’s agricultural oversight, particularly for state-owned enterprises in food production. Animal welfare, ethical farming practices, and financial accountability are once again at the forefront.

For now, thousands of animals have paid the price—and the public will be watching closely as the legal and political fallout unfolds.

{Source: The Seattle Times}

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