British poultry chiefs set the record straight on chicken production

Chickens reared for meat are not “battery” farmed and poultry producers in the UK are fed up of hearing the claim repeatedly.

That was the message from the British Poultry Council (BPC) and the NFU as they attempted to dispel misconceptions surrounding the production of British poultry meat.

It was prompted by recent newspaper reports ahead of Channel 4’s Big Food Fight, which kicks off tonight with Hugh’s Chicken Run (hosted by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall).

Peter Bradnock, chief executive of the BPC, and Charles Bourns, chairman of the NFU poultry board, said animal welfare was the top priority for poultry producers because their birds were their most valuable assets. Low prices on supermarket shelves did not mean low welfare on farm.

“It’s disappointing that once again the British media are referring to chickens reared for meat as ‘battery’ farmed. This is completely untrue and our members who look after the national flock are fed up to the back teeth of hearing it repeated. Chickens reared for meat in Britain are kept indoors or are free range – they are never kept in battery cages,” they said.

They went on to explain the high standards that are used in British poultry meat production and also that the section is heavily regulated both in law and its assurance standards that go beyond legal requirements.

The independent Assured Chicken Production (ACP) standards mean farmers have adhered to the Five Freedoms welfare propositions. This means the birds have:

• Ready access to fresh water and a nutritionally sound daily diet and sufficient space to allow them to all feed at the same time

• Sufficient space, good quality housing and are kept in a safe, hygienic and comfortable environment

• The freedom to express normal behaviour by providing sufficient space to walk, turn, sit, preen, flap and stretch their wings, and dust bathe

• Are free from pain, injury and disease through prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment

• Provided with living conditions and treatment that avoid mental suffering.

Under ACP standards the maximum stocking density in the UK is 38kg/sq m which is below levels in other Europeans countries. From 2010, the density will be reduced to 42kg/sq m – a figure the UK is already well below.