Welfare before broiler size, say stores
11 December 2001
Welfare before broiler size, say stores
By FWi staff
SOME of Britains biggest supermarkets have called for the growth rates of broiler chickens to be limited if they cause welfare problems.
This follows a report in The Independent that British breeders are breeding birds that will grow even faster than current stock.
Safeway and Sainsbury told the newspaper that they would regard the higher growth rates as unacceptable if it compromised welfare.
Marks and Spencer also said there should be limits if present levels of husbandry were threatened.
Asda said it would be concerned if this had welfare implications and Somerfield said faster growing birds would need better conditions.
Tesco said growth rates alone were not a welfare issue unless they caused pain and deformity, but said it would assess the welfare of these new birds.
At present broilers can reach 2.6kg in six weeks. New varieties could reach 3kg in the same period.
- Warning over fast-growing chickens, FWi, 10 December 2001
- Cut poultry density, says RSPCA, FWi, 20 April 2000
- Brussels condemns poultry welfare, FWi, 06 April 2000
- The Independent, 11 December 2001, page 2