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Animal welfare in the meat chicken industry |
The issues The industry Breeding Growing Processing Welfare-friendly chicken
Most meat chickens are intensively farmed and, in the UK and the European Union, much consideration has been given in recent years to the welfare of these birds. On the basis of concerns raised by animal welfare organisations in these countries, RSPCA Australia concludes that the major welfare issues faced by the chicken meat industry are:
Fast growth rate
Meat chickens have been selected to produce large breast muscle and will grow to slaughter weight (from 1.8 to 2.2 kg) in 30 to 60 days. Modern day meat chickens are voracious eaters. Studies show that this rapid growth rate can result in the bird developing chronic leg disorders, ascites (a heart condition) and sudden death syndrome.
Birds may become so heavy that they suffer from leg weakness, joint problems and bone fractures. Their legs may be unable to support them, leaving them unable to access food and water, and suffering from hock and foot pad burn and breast blisters due to increased contact with the floor litter. The litter becomes increasingly saturated with urine/faeces as the birds grow. This produces ammonia which may burn the bird’s skin upon contact.
Low space allowance
The large size of the chickens also affects stocking density (the amount of space available to the bird), especially at the end of the growing period. Lack of space results in lack of exercise, which increases the incidence of lameness. This, in turn, increases the birds’ contact with the floor litter, causing foot pad burn, hock burn and breast blisters. Chickens may die from heat stress caused by the cramped conditions in the shed.
Inadequate lighting
Meat chickens are often kept in dim light with only a very short period of full darkness. This encourages them to eat but prevents them from having a proper rest. The dim light also discourages activity which exacerbates lameness and the other problems associated with fast growth rate.
Barren environment
The sheds in which meat chickens are kept do not provide any form of environmental enrichment, e.g. straw bales and perches for pecking and perching, and even balls. Barren environments discourage activity and contribute to breast blisters, hock and foot pad burn.
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