Welfare of Meat Chickens (Broilers)

• Broilers are chickens bred and raised specifically for meat production.
• They are among the most intensively farmed animals globally, often kept in large flocks of thousands.
• Selective breeding, rapid growth, and high stocking densities have raised significant welfare concerns.

Key Welfare Concerns in Broilers

a. Genetic selection for rapid growth

• Leads to skeletal disorders, heart problems, and metabolic stress.
• Birds reach market weight in 5–7 weeks, often before skeletal and organ systems mature.

b. Leg health problems

• Lameness due to tibial dyschondroplasia, valgus–varus deformities, and joint disorders.
• Difficulty walking affects feeding, drinking, and overall comfort.

c. Ascites and sudden death syndrome

• Linked to rapid growth and poor cardiovascular function.
• High mortality in fast-growing strains.

d. High stocking densities

• Limited space reduces movement and increases competition for feed and water.
• Increases heat stress, ammonia buildup, and risk of disease.

e. Poor litter quality

• Wet litter leads to footpad dermatitis, hock burns, and breast blisters.
• Painful lesions reduce mobility and welfare.

f. Restricted behavioral expression

• Limited opportunity for perching, dust bathing, and foraging.
• Birds often spend much of their life sitting due to heavy body weight.

Common Housing Systems

a. Intensive indoor systems (conventional):

• Large flocks housed on litter with controlled feeding, ventilation, and lighting.
• Most common but high welfare concerns.

b. Enriched indoor systems:

• Provide perches, platforms, pecking substrates, and improved lighting.
• Enhance activity and reduce leg problems.

c. Free-range systems:

• Birds have indoor housing with outdoor access.
• Better opportunities for natural behavior but higher risk of predation and disease.

d. Organic systems:

• Lower stocking densities, slower-growing breeds, and outdoor access.
• Better welfare but slower production and higher costs.

Indicators of Poor Welfare in Broilers

• Physical indicators: lameness, footpad dermatitis, hock burns, breast blisters.
• Behavioral indicators: reduced activity, reluctance to walk, sitting for long periods.
• Health indicators: ascites, sudden death, respiratory issues.
• Productivity signs: uneven growth rates, increased mortality, reduced feed conversion efficiency.

Strategies to Improve Welfare

a. Genetic approaches

• Use of slower-growing broiler strains with better leg health and cardiovascular function.

b. Management practices

1. Lower stocking densities (e.g., below 30 kg/m² as recommended by EU guidelines).
2. Improved ventilation and litter management to reduce ammonia and dampness.

Lighting programs that mimic natural day–night cycles for proper rest.

c. Environmental enrichment

• Providing perches, straw bales, pecking blocks, and natural light.
• Encourages movement, reduces boredom, and improves leg strength.

d. Health monitoring

• Regular welfare assessments: gait scoring, footpad lesion checks, and mortality records.
• Preventive veterinary care to reduce disease burden.

e. Slaughter and transport considerations

• Proper handling during catching and loading to minimize stress and injury.
• Adequate ventilation and space during transport.