AN undercover investigation into Europe's quail farming industry has uncovered "suffering on an enormous scale", according to animal welfare group Compassion in World Farming.

According to CIWF, the 'luxury' market for quail eggs and meat involves 142 million animals every year, the majority for meat production, kept in cramped condition with as little space allowance as a beer mat. During the winter of 2015/16 investigators visited factory farms in four EU member states: Italy, France, Portugal and Greece.

A CIWF investigator said: “Witnessing such tiny, fragile birds being subjected to the callousness of overcrowded, filthy factory farm conditions was devastating.

“There was no enrichment, nowhere for the birds to dustbathe and absolutely nowhere for the quail to hide. This must be torture for an animal that would naturally seek cover in undergrowth, forage for insects and dustbathe regularly.

“The lack of care was palpable and widespread. I was stunned. Quail are the smallest animal to be factory farmed, but this comes at a big price.”

The species is actually the third most caged farm animal in Europe. But CIWF pointed out that the barren battery cage ban which was introduced throughout the EU to protect the welfare of laying hens does not extend to egg laying quail.

CIWF noted that higher welfare systems for farming quail do exist, where birds are kept in naturally lit barns with more space to roam and dustbathe, some with access to the outdoors – but reality was that almost all of the EU’s quail production is undertaken in low welfare conditions.

Campaign manager James West said: “Quail are seen as a delicacy and a luxury product, when in fact the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Sold for a premium price in supermarkets and top restaurants in the UK, Portugal, Spain, and Germany, the vast majority of quail are reared in horrendous conditions.

“It is unacceptable that the EU has banned the keeping of hens in barren battery cages while still permitting quail to be kept in similar cages. The farming of quail in cages is cruel and must be phased out.”