Hudson Valley Foie Gras: The Truth

[Diamond88]

The Hudson Valley farmers seem very responsible, as it says in the info section for the video that they developed this method under the guidance of animal behaviorists. Unfortunately, I have serious doubts that most foie gras ducks are kept under these conditions. Video clips I've seen of other farms have been pretty horrific.

 

[jdywntr]

What a nice little sound byte for the foie gras industry. Saying that they are happy and have lots of little ducky friends to play with is ridiculous. I guess the same could be said of chickens in the broiler industry. Those ducks were dirty. Both in the big barns and in the small pens. And while I agree that ducks need to earn their keep, they don't need to do it by having a tube shoved down their throat.

Here is a quote from 2 pretty respectable sources:

"Other ducks die a slow, painful, and premature death by suffocation from inhalation of regurgitated feed. In fact, because of the massive toll taken on the birds during the force-feeding process, the average pre-slaughter mortality rate is up to twenty times higher than on other duck factory farms, according to the European Union's Scientific Report on the subject.

According to the ASPCA, "The birds' livers become so enlarged…that according to documentation by veterinarians, the animals must experience unspeakable pain and suffering. Birds have literally exploded from these forced feedings. The results of necropsies on dead birds that have been force-fed reveal ruptured livers, throat damage, esophageal trauma, and food spilling from the dead animals' throats and out of their nostrils."

Now I won't say I am a fan of PETA but they do go to extremes to get the dirt on this type of thing:

A PETA investigation at Hudson Valley Foie Gras in New York (then called "Commonwealth Enterprises") found that so many ducks died when their organs ruptured from overfeeding that workers who killed fewer than 50 birds per month were given a bonus. Many ducks develop foot infections, kidney necrosis, spleen damage, bruised and broken bills, and tumor-like lumps in their throats. One duck had a maggot-infested neck wound so severe that water spilled out of it when he drank.
Other investigations at Hudson Valley Foie Gras and America's other leading foie gras producer, Sonoma Foie Gras in California, revealed that ducks were crammed into filthy, feces-ridden sheds and that others were isolated in wire cages that were so small that they could barely move. Investigators also observed barrels full of dead ducks who had choked to death or whose organs had ruptured during the traumatic force-feeding process. The investigators rescued 15 ducks, including two who were being eaten alive by rats because they could not move.​

I will stop before posting pics of ducks that are dead after regurgitating their feed (even though they have no gag reflex) or of ducks being chewed on by rats. To think that this is okay is obsured. I raise my ducks for meat. My ducks are happy. They swim, play, forage and live the life of a duck not of a factory farm animal.

 

[Coupe]

They had a lawsuit against them just last year.and of course they are going to clean the place up before the do interviews on the place.

 

[ChristineR]

What a nice little sound byte for the foie gras industry. Saying that they are happy and have lots of little ducky friends to play with is ridiculous. I guess the same could be said of chickens in the broiler industry. Those ducks were dirty. Both in the big barns and in the small pens. And while I agree that ducks need to earn their keep, they don't need to do it by having a tube shoved down their throat.

I agree. This is propaganda for the industry. Of course a video produced by the maker of the product is going to cast themselves and the industry in a favorable light.

I love animals and I love eating meat. I am not a fan of PETA or the ASPCA, but I try to buy all my meat from local farms that raise their animals humanely, though. No way would I eat or support the foie gras industry.

 

[bluejeans]

Thanks that was very intresting . My ducks and geese jam to country music mostly ,, with some rock and roll on the radio as that is what i put on for them ..As the radio playing helps keep coyotes leary , since during the day i free range and the geese and ducks hang around the radio..on the down side of all this ------ they and my dog seem to understand Navajo much better than my Engish.. as the navajo radio station comes in very clear near where i live ..

 

[Freakmonger]

All examples of factory farming are negligent in humanely caring for our meat supply. Losses on a small farm are not tolerated as they cut into the pocket too deeply it doesn't make cents. The management of animals and livestock isn't new, what is new is the application of the factory to the farm. I don't believe anyone here is in favor of the factory farming and their practices, There are humane practices that should be taken in the treatment of all livestock meant for our consumption and I don't think that those that are doing things properly locally should be persecuted for it. So I as well don't support the industry factory farm. Animal Husbandry as a concept seems lost in a mass produced world, and the art of Gavage will be lost as well.

 

[bluejeans]

All examples of factory farming are negligent in humanely caring for our meat supply. Losses on a small farm are not tolerated as they cut into the pocket too deeply it doesn't make cents. The management of animals and livestock isn't new, what is new is the application of the factory to the farm. I don't believe anyone here is in favor of the factory farming and their practices, There are humane practices that should be taken in the treatment of all livestock meant for our consumption and I don't think that those that are doing things properly locally should be persecuted for it. So I as well don't support the industry factory farm. Animal Husbandry as a concept seems lost in a mass produced world, and the art of Gavage will be lost as well.

i would have to think that there are bussiness persons that enjoy agriculture and perhaps duck farming or some other sort of farming or ranching and are in bussiness to make a profit yes .. but also care about the animals treatment. .

after all bussiness men need to feed their familys and employess , and many of them i would think would be compassonate also..

i would think a lot of bussiness person were raised raised by good and caring parents also. and they kept those values.

in fact i would have to think some of them were raised not only on this same planet as we were but also by american dads and moms much like you and i ..

 

[jdywntr]

i would have to think that there are bussiness persons that enjoy agriculture and perhaps duck farming or some other sort of farming or ranching and are in bussiness to make a profit yes .. but also care about the animals treatment. .

after all bussiness men need to feed their familys and employess , and many of them i would think would be compassonate also..

i would think a lot of bussiness person were raised raised by good and caring parents also. and they kept those values.

in fact i would have to think some of them were raised not only on this same planet as we were but also by american dads and moms much like you and i ..

I would agree with you that there are businesses in duck farming run by people that care about animals. The problem that many of us had with the clip that you posted was that it is produced by the farm in question. This farm has been sued for saying that they utilize humane practices when there is clear evidence when that is not so.

Sadly, when an animal based business becomes industrialized many times the handling of the animals is placed in the hands of employees who are doing their job for a wage not necessarily for the best treatment of the animals in their care.

All you need to do is google the name of the business and you will find a ton of hits related to inhumane treatment of the animals in their care.

 

[bluejeans]

i found both some people disliked it other people liked it.

the courts that checked into them evidently have ruled in their favor as they are still in bussiness .. that alone makes one think the accusers ( could be) a little bit over the top .
extreme peta type people perhaps since the court rulings must have gone in favor of the farm..

Once again how many places would let the public JUST drop in any old time if they were up to no good?

here is a review of the product and one person here went and checked the place out im sure the courts did also..

and im sure with all the desenters the state does also and frequently


http://www.yelp.com/biz/hudson-valley-foie-gras-ferndale

one thing though i think we can all agree on here .. because of the intrest in the farm both good and bad .. they are not going to get away with bad behavior with so many authorities checking up on them and im sure they have veternarians that also regularly check the health of their animals and also to make sure they are disease free...and the feeding method assures that with so many ducks non starve

 

[Coupe]

The courts made them change their logo. Because their logo said somthing about them being humane. And they are not. So they didnt get anything ruled in their favor.