Chicken Abuse Prompts Tyson To Cut Ties With Tennessee Poultry Farm

Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale has ended its business relationship with a Tennessee poultry farm after an undercover video showed workers there abusing chickens. 

According to Meat & Poultry magazine, an industry-leading publication, the video was taken by a member of Mercy For Animals and shows individuals clubbing birds using a pole with a spike on the end of it.

The video was taken during a four-week period in July and August at T&S Farm in Dukedom, Tennessee, which the organization said is a contract farm for Tyson Foods and a McDonald’s Corp. poultry supplier for the chain’s Chicken McNuggets.

McDonald’s supported Tyson Foods’ decision to sever ties with the poultry processor, according to the report.

“Animal well-being is a priority at our company and we will not tolerate the unacceptable animal treatment shown in this video,” Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson said in a statement to Meat & Poultry. “We’re especially concerned about the inappropriate methods used to euthanize sick and injured chickens.

“Members of our animal well-being team are investigating, however, based on what we currently know, we are terminating the farmer’s contract to grow chickens for us. There are currently no chickens on the farm.”