ANIMAL Aid is calling on the public to extend the season of goodwill to all animals including turkeys.

Every year, around 10m turkeys are slaughtered for Christmas dinners in the UK.

The vast majority of these animals will have come from a factory farm, where they are forced to live in filthy, crowded sheds for their short existence.

Animal Aid investigations on turkey farms have found untreated injuries, dead animals, and turkeys attacking one another in the stressful, cramped conditions.

Turkeys have been selectively bred to grow so fast, so quickly that they can suffer many health problems - including cardiovascular conditions, and painful leg disorders. And of course, regardless of where the turkeys spend their very short lives, they are sent to the abattoir to face a brutal and terrifying death.

However, the good news is that there are so many delicious plant-based alternatives to meat and other animal products, that simply switching to a cruelty-free alternative has never been easier.

These are widely available in every supermarket and health food shop nationwide, as well as extensively online and on the high street.

Tod Bradbury,

Campaign manager,

Animal Aid.