Feeding procedure
Foie Gras Gavage
Force-feeding tube
What it is
A tube is pushed down the bird's throat and a measured amount of feed is delivered into the upper digestive tract. This is repeated through the finishing period.
Where it sits in the system
The product is an enlarged liver. Gavage puts feed straight into the oesophagus so that intake is not left to the bird.
Welfare concern
The bird is caught and held for every feeding, and the tube goes in every time. Fear comes with that, and throat injury and breathing difficulty follow when the tube damages the oesophagus — alongside the liver enlargement the process is designed to cause.
Worth being precise about
Tube feeding is a legitimate clinical technique in other settings. This entry concerns its repeated use in production to enlarge a liver.
