Ventilation shutdown (VSD) is a horrific method of mass-killing farmed animals whereby barns are sealed and airflow is cut off. Thousands or even tens of thousands of animals inside these facilities slowly die of heat stress or suffocation over extended periods of time as a result of this barbaric practice. As if VSD performed on its own is not horrific enough, in some cases heat or carbon dioxide is added to aid in the killing of these animals, in a process known as VSD+.
The footage we obtained showed birds being subjected to VSD in various forms. The birds’ suffering was captured in graphic detail with each video showing a single hen enclosed in a small box with a clear front panel for observation. Animal Outlook attorney Will Lowrey, who obtained and watched the 10 hours of footage, told The Intercept who published an article on these experiments today that "the suffering is extremely profound".
The videos show that as the boxes get hotter and the air inside more stagnant, and as carbon dioxide is sometimes added, the chickens writhe, gasp, pant, stagger and even throw themselves against the walls of their confinement in a desperate attempt to escape. Eventually the birds collapse and, finally, die from heat and suffocation.
As the researchers looked on while documenting their suffering and making adjustments to equipment, they kept themselves comfortable by sipping water and cooling themselves in front of fans. It’s hard to imagine being so concerned with your own comfort while watching animals in such distress.
Multiple birds were killed by intense heat and suffocation in cruel ventilation shutdown experiments.
This suffering is not just happening in labs - the agriculture industry is using VSD today. As a result of the most recent massive avian flu outbreak, millions of animals are being killed across the country with untold numbers being suffocated and overheated by the cruel method depicted in these videos. At just one Tyson facility in Stoddard, Missouri this cruel method has been used to kill more than 300,000 chickens being raised for meat.
The COVID-19 pandemic also led to the use of VSD after outbreaks at slaughterhouses which resulted in meat supply chain back-ups. Producers who could not send their animals to slaughter instead used VSD to mass-kill them at the farms instead. An investigation by another animal protection NGO DxE revealed VSD use on pigs at Iowa Select Farms in 2020. Their investigation footage showed pigs crying out as they were cooked to death over the course of hours, while succumbing to VSD.
Animal Outlook, together with other animal protection groups, filed an emergency petition almost two years ago asking the USDA to prevent any COVID relief funds from being used to facilitate or compensate farms for using VSD. The USDA has not responded and disbursed relief funds indiscriminately.
With your support, we will build a better tomorrow for all animals.
With gratitude,
Cheryl Leahy
Executive Director
P.S. You can read more about the experiments performed by North Carolina State University by clicking here.
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