UK Edition
Organic turkey farmers sent death threats by vegan protesters as they accuse activists of scaring their birds
Organic turkey farmers have warned of a co-ordinated campaign by vegan activists, who send death threats and frighten the birds, as attacks rise in the run-up to Christmas.
Ethical farms, which allow the public in to see the fields in which their turkeys roam, fear they have been targeted because of their public presence - as factory farms do not open to the public and can afford heavy security.
Paul Kelly, who owns the Kelly Bronze turkeys, reared by small farmers across the country and a favourite of Nigella Lawson and Delia Smith, said attacks by protesters are on the rise.
His Christmas turkeys roam free in fields together in flocks, and are carefully raised for six months, with would-be buyers able to track the birds' progress on Instagram.
He told the Sunday Telegraph: "They're attacking the small farmers because there are lots more of them and they're easier to target as they can’t afford big padlocks and security.
"We've been targeted this year, it's on the rise, there's nothing you can do.
"They're scaring our turkeys and shouting at them through loudspeakers.
"They let the birds out of the pens and we lost four of them, these pedigree turkeys that we were trying to save the colour, they did a lot more harm than good.
"The small farmers are happy to show you what they're doing, it's the bigger companies who can afford to hide away.
"I think there's a bigger trend towards vegetarianism and veganism, they've probably all got together, Christmas turkeys is a high profile thing, they know the farmers have Christmas turkeys on the farm, it's low hanging fruit for them.
"I've had death threats, loads. It's part and parcel of the job. There's nothing nice about killing any animal but you just treat them as you want to be reared and kill them with absolute respect."
Small, local farms have worried that they could be put out of business if they are subjected to constant vandalism and attacks.
Susan Gorst, who runs Moorgate Farm in Potterspury, near Milton Keynes, said this year was the first in 19 years rearing turkeys she has been attacked by vegans.
She told the Sunday Telegraph: “The gist of what I thought was their argument was that we kill animals - they said ‘oh you say that you love these animals but you kill them’
“But I thought - we are giving them a happy life, they couldn’t get a happier life anywhere else than what they get here."
Mrs Gorst said the vegans had been frightening her “sensitive” birds by shouting through a tannoy, explaining: “The most disturbing thing for me was they frightened the turkeys and they wouldn’t come out [into the field] again.
“They are supposed to be there to protect the animals but they were upsetting the turkeys.
“Turkeys are quite sensitive and they don’t like anything unusual.”
She said that if the vegans return to her small farm, she will ring the police, adding: “I found it upsetting that they did pick on me, you take it personally, and you only become a farmer because you love animals, you want to care for them and want to be with them. The reason why I do the things the way I do it is because I don’t agree with big slaughterhouses and cruelty to animals.
“If they put us all out of business the only place you could buy a turkey is a big slaughter house and factory farm. We are the people who are trying to improve animal welfare, it’s very unfair.”
Farmer Mat Carter, who runs Greendale Farm Shop in Woodbury, Devon, said his staff have been subjected to death threats because of their “pick your own turkey” scheme, where customers can come and look at the turkeys at the farm before choosing one to eat.
Vegans had spray-painted “murderer” and “go vegan” on the front of his shop, and on pheasants for sale outside.
His staff had also been subjected to unpleasant phone calls, with one reportedly calling and asking the butcher: "How would you like it if I cut you up and put you on the counter?"
TV chef Richard Corrigan, who owns a farm at his Virginia Park Lodge hotel and restaurant, said farmers markets and butcher shops should have extra police protection to guard against vegan attacks.
He told the Sunday Telegraph: "This is their income, these very aggressive vegans are dealing with farmers income which is already really tight. Authorities need to step in if there’s any intimidating going on and they should have policemen on standby at farmers markets.
"Why don't they sit home and eat their Quorn and enjoy themselves and leave the rest of us alone? Be vegan but keep yourself to yourself, don't be annoying everyone else.”