Sir, – As a consequence of the EU ban on “unenriched” battery cages for egg-laying hens coming into force this week, the Irish Farmers Association reported up to 100,000 birds would have to be slaughtered earlier than normally (Home News, December 30th), as 10 farmers did not have the required cages to comply with new legislation, though they had been given some 10 years to prepare for this.
Members of Quaker Concern for Animals in Britain, who have close contact with your excellent campaigners, understand that the Alliance for Animal Rights (AFAR) approached IFA Poultry chairman, Alo Mohan, offering up to 400 homes for the hens in order to save them from slaughter. The group also offered to match the payment that the slaughterhouse would have made to the farmer, thus not only ensuring that the birds would have good homes, but also that the farmers were not financially compromised by this.
We are informed that although Mr Mohan attempted to secure the safe future of the birds by approaching the farmers with this offer, there was no response.
On January 4th it was announced that most of the birds had been slaughtered. Mr Mohan confirmed next day that 10 per cent of the 80-90,000 birds had still not been killed and AFAR repeated the offer of payment to the farmers. We feel, with the Irish campaigners, it is sad that these birds have been deprived of their only chance of a decent life after the ordeal of being obliged to live in battery cages.
If any of these birds remain alive, we are appealing to those responsible to reflect and change their minds about the decision to kill them. Surely we owe them that. – Yours, etc,