Financial problems have forced a poultry farm in central Russia's Kursk region to slaughter 500,000 hens and chickens, the head of the farm said on 15 December.

According to RIA Novosti, Krasnaya Polyana farm has debts of 40 million rubles (US$1.3 million), farm head Vladimir Butkyeev said. He added that Krasnaya Polyana is now on the brink of total financial collapse and has no money even to buy feed for the chickens.

"Broiler chickens are being dumped into holes, covered with sod, and trampled over by tractor. Crying women are dumping thousands of the youngest chicks into barrels and pouring water over them in freezing weather," an eyewitness said.

Mr Butkyeev said another 500,000 chickens could be killed if the government does not come to the farm's help. The farm, has posted footage of the slaughter on the Internet in a bid to attract attention.

The farm head also said that he believed the farm's woes were due to political intrigue in the run-up to local elections.