Banned elsewhere in the West, Israel permitting farmers to use feces as cattle feed |
Israel still permits farmers to use poultry feces, feathers and chicken coop food scraps as cattle feed, despite the practice being banned in the European Union, the UK, Switzerland, Canada, Japan, Namibia, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Agriculture Ministry permits 43,000 tons of what it calls poultry manure to be fed to calves and cows each year, according to Freedom of Information data obtained by the animal rights organization, Animals Now.
The progressive group launched a public education campaign against the practice on Sunday called “Eat less meat, eat less shit,” with posts on social media and posters plastered on the streets of Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan. Animals Now said 43,000 tons of the taboo ingredients is equivalent to over 1,400 full trucks parked bumper to bumper on the more than 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) it takes to travel from Tel Aviv to Netanya.
Many countries have banned the practice to stop pathogens and residues from heavy metals,........