Ryan Gosling, who was recently hailed a hero for breaking up a fight in New York City, is stepping up to throw a few punches at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The 30-year-old actor, best known his starring role in "The Notebook," has once again teamed up with PETA to support the humane slaughter of chickens. In a letter sent last Friday to the USDA, Gosling urges officials to reconsider a currently-endorsed plan for dispatching diseased chickens and turkeys that involves spray foam.

"This method causes birds intense and prolonged suffering before they suffocate to death," he writes. "If dogs and cats were killed in this way, the person committing these acts would be charged with cruelty to animals."

According to PETA, foam can sometimes take as long as 15 minutes to kill a bird.

Gosling goes on to recommend the USDA adopt "whole-house gassing," which renders the birds unconscious with carbon dioxide before they are killed.

"WHG is internationally recognized as the most humane option and is successfully used throughout the world to suppress disease outbreaks," he adds. "It also limits human exposure to disease by minimizing contact with the birds and promotes biosecurity by requiring that the birds remain in closed quarters during the process."

This marks the third time that Gosling has spoken up for the slaughter of birds. Last year, he teamed with PETA to urge McDonald's to adopt a more humane killing practice for their chickens, and also penned a similar letter in 2008 to fast-food chain KFC.

The actor can next be seen in the George Clooney-directed "Ides of March."

Source: Mother Nature Network