NSPCA wins urgent court order to halt 594 000 animal cruelty at Daybreak Foods farms

The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has taken swift legal action against Daybreak Foods after discovering severe animal welfare violations at its breeder farms in Limpopo. A Johannesburg High Court ruling on Saturday, 10 May 2025, ordered the poultry company to stop all cruel culling methods and provide proper feed to hundreds of thousands of birds facing starvation.

This intervention follows a rapidly escalating crisis at Daybreak’s facilities in Bela-Bela and Mookgopong, where nearly 600,000 breeder birds were reportedly left without adequate food and care. The NSPCA described the conditions as “catastrophic,” citing mass neglect, injuries, and reports of cannibalism.

Picture: NSPCA

Picture: NSPCA

Picture: NSPCA

According to the NSPCA, Daybreak Foods failed to alert authorities about the deteriorating conditions at its breeder farms, despite knowing similar welfare issues had already surfaced at its broiler facilities earlier this year. The NSPCA only learned of the crisis on 7 May 2025 through a whistleblower. By then, the damage was already widespread.

The court-ordered intervention comes after shocking revelations that untrained workers were instructed to cull birds by swinging them by the head—an illegal and inhumane method. Breeder birds, which can weigh up to 5kg, require specific euthanasia procedures that Daybreak allegedly ignored.

In response to Daybreak’s continued failure to correct its operations, the NSPCA secured an urgent interim order compelling the company to:

• Immediately stop all inhumane culling practices;

• Provide sufficient and appropriate feed for all birds;

• Halt breeding and chick placements at all facilities;

• Submit a detailed plan and timeline to resolve the welfare crisis.

Picture: NSPCA

Picture: NSPCA

“This is not just a farming failure—it’s a collapse of ethical responsibility,” said Senior Inspector Nazareth Appalsamy. “These birds are starving and suffering. Daybreak must comply with the court’s order or face serious consequences.”

The court also granted the NSPCA unrestricted access to inspect Daybreak’s farms. Inspectors have since been deployed to the affected sites, undertaking a large-scale and emotionally demanding operation to relieve the suffering of the animals.

The NSPCA said the financial strain of the operation is immense. As a non-profit body, it has had to channel major resources into staff, equipment, and logistics to intervene effectively.

Gratitude was extended to Advocate Samantha Martin, Gittins Attorneys, and local SPCAs in Mokopane, Polokwane, and Tshwane for their support during the legal process and ongoing emergency response.

Daybreak is expected to return to court on 13 May 2025 to explain why the interim order should not be made final. In the meantime, the NSPCA has vowed to continue its oversight of the farms and urges public and private support to aid its work.

Donations can be made here or  via EFT to Standard Bank account 220 639 744 (Branch Code: 051 001).

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Sourced:National Council Of SPCAs

Picture: ASPCA