According to the Council of Europe: “All animals must benefit from accommodation, feeding and care which, given its species, its degree of development, adaptation and domestication are appropriate to its physiological and ethological needs, according to acquired experience and scientific knowledge”. However, it is clear that the animals that are intended for foie gras production exist in an environment that is far from suitable for their physiological or behavioural needs.
Epinal’s image of the farmer’s wife catching her duck, wedging it between her legs to administer the dose of corn then releasing it in the farmyard so that it can go and "digest” the force-feeding operation alongside its fellow unfortunate animals or by splashing around in a pond… is a false image. Foie gras production is an industrial activity where the animal is compelled to develop "fatty liver" within a set time. The animal’s well-being doesn’t enter the equation. If it did, foie gras would disappear from our plates. The entire foie gras manufacturing chain runs contrary to the nature of these geese and ducks. This is proven both by scientists and by our investigations carried out on a farm in the Deux-Sèvres region.
A higher mortality rate
In addition to the problems related to force-feeding itself, farming places a huge number of deprivations on the animal. The consequences of this are injuries, behavioural problems and stress that may lead to death. In fact, it has been observed that the mortality rate was 10 to 20 times higher than the acceptable rate (0.2%) for force-fed ducks and geese. The large number of animals kept in farms also offers fertile breeding ground for the development of bird diseases.
Contrary to nature
Battery farming, which is still common in France, is contrary to nature. A goose or duck needs to spread its wings; these aquatic animals must be able to live on water; they need to smoothe down their plumage, grease it or even just clean it… These animals cannot satisfy their natural activities in a cage that may be smaller than a chicken cage. The cage may also become a source of injury when the duck puts on weight and can no longer put its neck through the grill.
Stress, aggression… and abnormal behaviour
Their physiological needs are not respected. Cooked and salted corn powder mixed with water is not a balanced diet. Its social needs are not respected either. The duck is a gregarious species which needs to be part of a group to which it remains loyal… but it’s difficult to “create” a relationship in 3m² parks with 15 to 18 animals. Stress, aggression and pecking are the daily lot of battery animals. And this is not the only abnormal behaviour. Under the 1996 regulations, only male ducks can be force-fed. The animal has no contact with females, which in particular harms the “filial impregnation” process: goslings and ducklings attach themselves to the first individuals they see, i.e. humans. These same humans will then subject them to terrible suffering during force-feeding sessions.
The laws are not applied
Ducks and geese are not suited to farming and force-feeding. The Council of Europe had defined this following the Scientific Committee’s report for the well-being of animals. It therefore set new rules to manage this practice, such as, for example, banning single cages because of the severe discomfort they cause. To protect its production, France has not adapted its own laws and has pushed back the application of these rules. The country has even managed to use its "cultural exception" in this area.
Via its investigation and information actions, One Voice plans to expose a trade and a culinary tradition that are unworthy of men and women in the XXIst century.
“The repeated stress suffered by ducks is the reason behind many of the 4 to 10% of cases of mortality that are observed until slaughter” René Dayan
"Traditional force-feeding techniques have been drastically altered over the last thirty years to rationalise and industrialise production and increase its profit. This had had a direct impact both on the species that are subject to this process and on the conditions under which they are held and the composition of the foodstuffs given to them to eat. These changes have been made without any consideration for the animal’s well-being. It is clear that not only have well-being conditions not improved, they have actually deteriorated”.
Extract from the Scientific Committee’s report delivered to the Council of Europe
