Overview
- Animal-rights group Aninova published time-stamped videos recorded November 8 to December 5 that allegedly show workers throwing crates, beating and strangling birds, pulling feathers from live geese, and leaving animals hanging head-down on stopped conveyors.
- Aninova says roughly 100 incidents were documented and has notified the local veterinary office and the Brandenburg agriculture ministry in addition to filing a criminal complaint.
- The operator, whose products are sold under the Dithmarscher-Geflügel brand, dismissed one employee, issued a warning to another, and announced plans to install cameras in the live-animal area.
- Management said it was unaware of the footage, emphasized regular oversight of the facility, and signaled it may file its own legal complaints while examining how the recordings were made.
- Brandenburg’s state animal-protection commissioner called the images shocking and said such handling of animals is unacceptable under welfare standards.