Well done Woolworths and Pick & Pay!

Due to the appalling way 1 day old hatchlings have been reported to have been treated the major chain store Woolworths has cut all ties with Jan Serfontein and his son, Jan. They are one of the country's three biggest chicken farms, Boskop Layer Chickens.

Kevin Korb, Pick n Pay food merchandise director said, Pick n Pay immediately wrote to all its eggs suppliers after the TV programme was aired that exposed "the cruel and inhumane manner in which one-day old male chicks were disposed of"

Korb said the suppliers were asked to submit a written undertaking that in terms of animal rearing and husbandry practices they would adhere to the South African Poultry Association's (Sapa) guidelines and principles.

The suppliers were also asked to allow regular spot checks from Pick & Pay to ensure they were still adhering to the South African Poultry Association guidelines and principles.

Pick n Pay demanded that suppliers release the names and contact details of the hatcheries that provided them with the day-old chicks or rearing stock.

"As a retailer which strongly supports the ethical treatment of animals, Pick n Pay will not tolerate or support any supplier who does not adhere to industry standards on animal rearing," Korb said.

"We are pleased to report that we have subsequently received responses from our suppliers, all of whom have given their written undertakings re the abovementioned points."

He said Pick n Pay had offered, on behalf of the suppliers, to annually inspect the hatchling suppliers from whom they purchased their eggs.

Beeld reported that Woolworths's food director Julian Novak stated it was important that animals be treated "humanely throughout the production process".

He said Woolworths egg suppliers had undertaken not to use hens bred by Boskop Layer Chickens

This was all started by a report in Beeld telling of the disgusting and heart breaking way 1 day old male chicks that are reportadly "economically worthless" are treated, up to 70 000 male birds are dumped in an empty farm dam every week and left to die.

According to a former employee, Kobus van Zyl, this has been going on for the past 70 years, as long as the North West chicken farm has existed. Van Zyl said sometimes it would take up to five days for the chicks to die, mainly of starvation or suffocation.

Both the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the South African Poultry Organisation are investigating the reports.