More than one million meat chickens die every week in the UK before reaching slaughter weight, according to a new report.
An analysis of government data by animal welfare charity Open Cages reveals that around 64 million chickens die prematurely each year in the UK. Dead birds can be incinerated or turned into usable materials such as protein meal.
Chris Packham, broadcaster and conservationist, said: “I think consumers would be absolutely disgusted to know that a million of these intelligent, sensitive birds are dying every week to get cheap chicken on their plates.
“The utter misery these animals face on a daily basis is unnecessary and would outrage even the most zealous carnivore because it serves no other purpose than to satisfy the profits of our big supermarkets who refuse to help them.”
Animal welfare activists say death rates could be greatly reduced through better welfare standards. They are calling on retailers to support the Better Chicken Commitment, an initiative to eliminate fast-growing breeds and reduce stocking densities.
Humane experts say the modern chicken is genetically bred to grow so fast that it can strain its body, increasing the risk of cardiac arrest.
Research shows that fast-growing chickens, which reach their killing weight in just 35 days, can have higher mortality, lameness and muscle disease than slower-growing breeds. One of the most common causes of death in herds is heart failure or sudden death syndrome.
Conor Jackson, chief executive of Open Cages, which produced the new report, said: “Supermarkets sell food with advertisements of animals in green fields but never show broiler chickens in sheds. It is appalling that supermarkets continue to sell these fast-growing breeds.”
Road operator and conservationist Chris Packham said consumers would be shocked by the truth about bird farming conditions. Photo: Aaron Chown/Pennsylvania
Although all major retailers in France have signed up to the Better Chicken Pledge, it is not yet backed by Britain’s biggest supermarkets. Her backers to date include Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Pret, KFC and foodservice company Compass Group. Sainsbury’s announced in April that its fresh chickens will be raised in 20% more space than the British standard by March 2023.
The British Poultry Council, the trade group for the industry, said: “Our birds are the most valuable part of production, so we work incredibly hard to minimize the mortality rate in the process, which averages around 4%.
“We use different production systems, including the Better Chicken Commitment, according to consumer demand. It has a higher environmental impact and production costs, so it currently represents only 1% one percent of the market. We are an industry driven by consumer preferences.”
Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: “Our members take their animal welfare responsibilities very seriously and ensure it is a key part of production standards for all the meat they sell.
“Retailers are now giving consumers a choice of how their chickens are raised, including free-range and organic chickens, in addition to the standard range.”
A Defra spokesman said: “All farm animals are protected by comprehensive and robust animal health and welfare legislation. We welcome the fact that many businesses have already signed the Better Chicken Pledge and encourage others to do so. We are exploring how the government can better support this best practice.”
Add Comment