Manitoba Chicken Producers is reacting following a video that surfaced this week out of British Columbia showing abuse of live birds.

Executive Director Wayne Hiltz had this reaction to the video.

"It's sickening, it's reprehensible but it's also important to note that it's not indicative, or representative, of how our industry works," he said. "It's horrible, it's reprehensible for the chicken but it's also very hard for our farmers. Our farmers work very hard to develop an Animal Care Program. Our farmers work very hard to raise their birds humanely."

Hiltz notes their Animal Care Program has a number of checks to make sure that Manitoba chicken producers are treating their animals humanely.

"Our auditors audit the farms, then we're audited on how well we do the audits, and then we have an independent 3rd party auditor that comes in, not only to our office to audit the structure of our program, but then also observes audits. Those are random."

He adds when this type of situation occurs, it has a negative impact on the entire industry.