Why the Better Chicken Commitment?

Animal Welfare

Per animal, meat chickens are by far the most farmed land animal in the world. The number of chickens raised for meat in Europe alone is in the billions (over 1 billion in the UK alone each year, for example), dramatically out numbering the total number of people, and with this intensive farming comes significant health and welfare problems. Current conventional chicken production involves the use of unnaturally large birds in cramped environments being slaughtered in as little as 35 days after hatching.

Breed

Three breeds of chicken dominate the whole global chicken market. These are breeds that have been genetically selected over generations to grow as big as possible, as quickly as possible, using as little feed as possible. While this may have its economical advantages, this unnatural growth rate leads to a severe increase in health and welfare problems that can result in death, disease, and even the inability to stand and walk.

Stocking Density

This refers to the amount of space the birds have to utilise. EU legislation allows approximately 21 birds per square metre for 2kg birds, although the UK does operate at marginally lower stocking densities, approximately 19 birds per square metre for 2kg birds (the top end of UK legislation and the slightly lower Red Tractor limits). This is approximately equivalent to each bird only having the floor space of an A4 sheet of paper. As well as the restriction to even move around, higher stocking densities increase litter moisture, increasing the number and severity of ammonia burns on the birds’ feet, legs, and chest. Recently, most of the UK retailers have committed reduce their stocking densities to align with the BCC, but this is not enough.

Environmental Enrichment

This refers to the access to natural light, perching space, and pecking objects. UK standards do now generally include natural light and some kinds of enrichment, however, we would like to see greater standardisation. The birds need these things for both mental and physical stimulation, and to be able to act out their natural behaviours.

Slaughter

Within the UK the majority of the industry does in (approximately 80%) fact use controlled atmosphere stunning. Where it is not used we would like to see the complete phasing out of any current electric water bath stunning that involves live inversion of the birds. This method involves hanging live birds upside down on shackles which is both stressful and painful. This often leads to wing flapping and birds trying to right themselves, which can then lead to some birds receiving ineffective shocks that do not kill them as intended.

For more information on these animal welfare concerns, please see the EU Broiler Chicken Welfare White Paper.

How can the BCC help reduce suffering?

See the Science page for a detailed explanation

The BCC is a commercially viable, scientifically backed set of criteria that addresses all of these points above. It was designed to raise the minimum production standards, significantly reducing the suffering of farmed meat chickens.

For more information on these animal welfare concerns, please see the EU Broiler Chicken Welfare White Paper.

This is what consumers want

84% of Europeans believe that the welfare of farmed animals should be better protected in their country than it is now.” —Eurobarometer 2023