Chickens for samgyetang raised in unsanitary conditions and suffer from various diseases due to intensive farming

Dancers perform in memory of slaughtered chickens during a rally hosted by the Animal Liberation Wave in Seoul on July 15. Kwon Do-hyun

Chickens slaughtered for samgyetang enjoyed by many people during the hottest time of the year suffer from various diseases and are exposed to harmful chemicals and pests due to intensive breeding methods, according to a new study. It has been shown that "Baeksemi," which refers to chickens for samgyetang, are raised in unsanitary conditions that can not only be seen as animal abuse but also threaten the health of humans who eat them.

On July 15, Animal Liberation Wave, an animal rights organization, and Last Hope for Animals (LCA), an overseas animal rights organization, released a report titled "The Truth About Samgyetang for Dog Days: The Tragic Lives of Chicks," based on undercover investigations into the crowded conditions of Baeksemi. The farms they investigated are three contract breeding farms in the Chungcheong and Jeolla Provinces that supply chicken to three large Korean companies that produce chicken.

Baeksemi is a chicken breed created by hybridizing broilers and laying hens and exists only in Korea. It was bred to grow to a weight (from 800 to 850 grams on average) and size that makes it easy to make samgyetang in just over a month. At the time of slaughter, Baeksemi's size is closer to that of a chick than a full-grown chicken.

The investigation found that many of these chickens are raised in hot, humid, and unclean conditions in close quarters, with many of them missing feathers and suffering from diseases, such as foot dermatitis. Many of them were injured from attacking, pecking, and scratching each other due to carnivorous behavior that occurs when animals are under extreme stress. Chickens suffering from various viral and bacterial infections were left untreated. Some were found dying in pain in their cages.

One of the farms was found to be producing high levels of ammonia gas that were life-threatening to the chickens. Pests were also found on other farms. These are insects that can cause bacterial infections, such as salmonella and E. coli.

In the process of loading the chicken into the truck, workers were also caught kicking and pushing the chicken into a narrow space. There were also unethical practices, such as leaving chicken without food and water when they had no market value.

"Not only are the chickens being severely abused, but they are also being kept in unsanitary conditions that threaten public health," said Jang Hee-Ji, a campaigner for Animal Liberation Wave. "The government must urgently find a way to end the practice of crowded farming."

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.