Protesters demand abolition of animal farming outside Redgrave duck farm

Animal rights activists assembled outside a duck farm in Diss this week, following an investigation which claimed that the company had been involved in serious mistreatment of its animals.

On Friday August 8, around two dozen members of Norfolk Animal Vigils and the Animal Justice Project (AJP) held up placards outside Gressingham Duck’s processing plant in Hinderclay Road, Redgrave.

Stood in 30 degree weather, demonstrators wore all black as they demanded the complete abolition of duck farming, after the AJP’s investigation claimed that Gressingham Duck – the largest duck supplier in Britain – had been gravely mistreating their animals.

The protests marked the finalising of a petition with 6,000 signatories asking for the company to end duck farming following the findings of the AJP’s investigation; which claimed that were deprived of space, suitable lighting, and would often have their necks broken.

The AJP’s lead organiser Ayrton Cooper said that Gressingham Farm, which employs around 100 people on its sites in Redgrave and Woodbridge, should instead transition to plant based farming.

“We’re an abolitionist organisation, so we don’t believe in exploitation of animals at all,” said the 26-year-old, from Nottingham.

“From the back of our investigation, we’re asking them to end exploitation completely and stop them killing ducks.

“We’re in the middle of nowhere, so this isn’t a stunt for the public to see directly.

“We want them to transition into plant based farming instead, where they can create vegan and plant based products instead.”

The AJP were also joined by Norfolk Animal Vigils, headed by mother-of-four and Norfolk native Debbie Anne.

The 56-year-old said: “So much is kept hidden behind locked doors - it’s obviously on private land so people don’t really see what is going on inside, but by doing protests we are able to get the reality out there so people can make informed decisions.

“They’ve shown a total disregard for the animals’ lives – they are just treated as commodities, they’re not treated as sentient beings, they’re given no respect no dignity.

“These animals are not even kept in good conditions, they are picked up, they are thrown and discarded as if they mean nothing. Sadly this is a reality.”

In response to the protests, a statement from Gressingham Duck defended the company’s treatment of its animals, refuting the claims put forward by the AJP.

The statement read: “We were approached by the Animal Justice Project in December with photographic and video material from one of our duck farms.

“There were a limited number of images and comments that are not representative of the high standards expected of our farms.

“We respect the fact that opposing groups have different views about the poultry industry that will we never agree on.

“Our focus is to continue providing the best quality food products to our customers by upholding our excellent farming and processing practices.

“We take care in all that we do and the welfare of our birds and staff are absolute priorities.”