Urgent Interim Order Obtained Against Daybreak to Protect Nearly 600k Starving Birds

The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has successfully obtained an urgent interim court order from the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Johannesburg, on Saturday, 10 May 2025, compelling Daybreak Foods to immediately cease all inhumane culling practices and to provide adequate, appropriate feed to hundreds of thousands of breeder birds at their facilities.

This urgent application, launched by the NSPCA on Friday, 9 May 2025, follows a catastrophic welfare emergency currently unfolding at two of Daybreak’s breeder farms in Bela-Bela and Mookgopong. An estimated 594,000 birds are at immediate risk of starvation, suffering from cannibalism, injuries, and prolonged neglect due to insufficient feeding and inhumane culling practices.

Daybreak failed to disclose the conditions at these two remote breeder farms, despite being fully aware that similar animal welfare collapses had already occurred at their broiler farms in April and May 2025. This lack of transparency from Daybreak directly delayed the NSPCA’s ability to intervene sooner. We only became aware of the breeder crisis through a whistleblower on 7 May 2025, prompting immediate action. Without this internal tip-off, the suffering of these animals would have remained hidden.

The NSPCA uncovered that Daybreak had deployed untrained casual staff to “kill” compromised breeder birds by violently swinging them by the head – a method both inhumane and illegal. Unlike smaller broiler birds previously involved, breeder birds weigh between 3.5kg and 5kg, rendering standard cervical dislocation methods ineffective and deeply traumatic to the birds.

Despite previous interventions, Daybreak has failed to take meaningful corrective action. The NSPCA was left with no choice but to turn to the courts for immediate relief. The Order, granted by the High Court, instructs Daybreak to:

• Immediately stop all inhumane culling methods;
• Provide adequate, species-appropriate feed for all birds;
• Cease all breeding and placement of chicks or birds at any affiliated facilities;
• Provide a timeline and strategy to address and resolve this ongoing crisis.

“This is not just a failure of farming practices – it is a collapse of basic ethical standards,” said Senior Inspector Nazareth Appalsamy. “The breeder birds are not only starving, they are suffering immensely. Daybreak must now comply lawfully, or face contempt of court proceedings.”

The Court also confirmed that the NSPCA has unfettered access to Daybreak’s facilities.

The NSPCA has deployed its entire Inspectorate to the affected breeder sites to alleviate the suffering of compromised birds and ensure that humane interventions are urgently carried out. This deployment is logistically and emotionally taxing, particularly given the sheer number and size of the animals involved.

This crisis places a significant financial burden on the NSPCA. As a non-profit organisation, the cost of mobilising staff, transport, equipment, and resources for an operation of this scale is immense, yet necessary to prevent unimaginable suffering.

We extend our greatest thanks to Advocate Samantha Martin and Gittins Attorneys for standing with us and the animals in Court, as well as to the Mokopane, Polokwane, and Tshwane SPCAs for assisting in this disaster.

The NSPCA will return to court on 13 May 2025, where Daybreak will need to explain why the relief should not be made final. The NSPCA remains committed to upholding its mandate to protect all animals in South Africa and will continue to monitor Daybreak’s compliance with the Court’s Order.

We urgently appeal to the public and the private sector to support our work by donating here or via EFT to Standard Bank account 220 639 744 (Branch Code: 051 001).