USDA Acquiescence in Cruel Killing Method

Thirty members of Congress sent a bipartisan letter to the US Department of Agriculture in February with pointed questions about the department’s effort to counter the widespread use of ventilation shutdown plus heat (VSD+) to kill tens of millions of birds during the ongoing bird flu outbreak.

The letter, led by Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA), underscores the fact that, notwithstanding the extreme suffering associated with VSD+, it has seemingly become the default method of convenience for conducting mass killings to “depopulate” exposed flocks, despite USDA policy stating it should be used only as a method of last resort. The lawmakers are seeking clarity from the USDA on what actions the department is taking to ensure implementation of more humane depopulation methods going forward.

Program Terms: Farmed Animals

AWI Quarterly Terms: Government/Legal