Disturbing footage from Australia’s largest egg producer has revealed workers throwing and kicking helpless hens.

Animal rights activists from Animal Liberation revealed the footage, which is alleged to be at Victoria’s Bridgewater Poultry farm.

It shows sadistic workers grabbing hens and slamming them onto the concrete floor, and kicking them across the room.

The business provides some of the country’s biggest brands, including Loddon Valley Eggs, Victorian Fresh Eggs and Country Fresh Eggs. Until recently it also supplied Woolworths and Coles.

During the clip, one worker is heard saying ‘I hate it when their heads come off’, and another replies ‘yeah it feels good, look’.

And a twisted worker laughs as a colleague says ‘you’re cruel’ after his sick antics.

Birds are also see writhing on the floor in pain and being swept across the floor.

The footage was taken in April and May, and Woolworths and Coles said they stopped using the farm in March.

Bridgewater Poultry said in a statement it was ‘saddened and deeply appalled by the apparent conduct of employees’.

A spokesperson said it was not condoned, approved or permitted behaviour.

“Bridgewater Poultry Farm will work with the Victorian government and all relevant authorities over the coming days to identify any shortcomings in the treatment of stock and the reasons for them,”  the statement added.

Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes told reporters action was needed. “The footage that I’ve seen warrants an investigation,” she said.

“The overwhelming majority of farmers and people in the livestock industry care very deeply for their animals and when this type of footage emerges it undermines the good work that they do.”

Bridgewater Poultry has asked Animal Liberation to provide unedited footage to Victoria Police for investigation.

Animal rights activist John Oberg told Totally Vegan Buzz: “Farm animals are born, bred, and raised in a system that allows for horrific abuse on every level, and this is evidence of that.

“If this sort of cruelty was inflicted on a cat or a dog, the perpetrators would end up in prison. Because the abuse was inflicted on farm animals, authorities will turn a blind eye.

“Therefore, it’s up to each one of us to help these animals and the best way to do that is through our food choices, specifically by choosing plant-based over animal-based food.”

Watch the full video here.

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Oli Gross

Oli Gross is a writer and editor at Totally Vegan Buzz. His background is in local newspaper and magazine journalism, and his work has included reporting court cases, celebrity interviews, business analysis, food and drink features and government legislation. Oli’s career and personal ethical values both help shape his reporting of the diverse world of veganism. At Totally Vegan Buzz he specialises in breaking news and features on animal rights activism. Follow him on Twitter @Oli_Gross12

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