India has one of the fastest-growing poultry industries globally, with welfare standards lagging far behind production growth.
India poultry industry expansion has largely replicated intensive Western production models without adopting the welfare standards being developed in those markets. Hens in battery cages, crowded transport, and unregulated slaughter are the norm rather than the exception. Live bird markets expose individual birds to prolonged holding in extreme conditions before on-site slaughter without stunning. NGOs including Humane Society International and local organisations are working to establish welfare standards and consumer awareness, but progress is slow relative to production growth. The welfare challenge is enormous given the scale of production.