Report looks at the health and welfare issues of three fast-growing breeds of chicken

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Report looks at the health and welfare issues of three fast-growing breeds of chicken

2 March 2020
RSPCA
News
The Better Chicken Commitment has encouraged big players to sign up and improve chicken welfare across the UK and Europe. But, there are still a number of businesses who aren't convinced that intensively reared meat chickens suffer from growing fast.

The RSPCA commissioned a report looking at fast-growing breeds compared to a slower-growing, higher welfare breed of chicken. The results are conclusive: genetics of these fast-growing chickens fail to safeguard welfare to such an extent that many birds could be considered as having a life not worth living.

Why chicken production needs to change

  • Slower growing over fast-growing. We found significant inefficiencies in standard meat chicken production. It's clear that fast-growing breeds suffer from poor health and welfare due to their genetics. Legislation is needed to safeguard the welfare of chickens must be implemented.

  • Cheap chicken. If issues such as mortality, lameness and downgraded carcasses due to poor meat quality (wooden breast and white striping) were taken into account, it would have a considerable impact on the cost of cheap chicken. The price of chicken is kept artificially low because these issues not being addressed adequately.

  • Environmental impact. As well as being ethically questionable, the wastefulness of the industry brings into question just how environmentally sustainable standard production is. Slower-growing higher welfare breeds should replace fast-growing breeds.
The post 'Report looks at the health and welfare issues of three fast-growing breeds of chicken' is modified from an article published by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in their original language.