Modern broiler chickens have been selected for extremely fast growth, creating serious welfare problems. Scientific evidence for reform is strong, and consumer campaigns are driving industry change.
Broiler chicken welfare represents one of the most significant and tractable farm animal welfare issues globally, affecting approximately 70 billion birds annually. The welfare problems of modern fast-growing breeds are well-characterised: skeletal disorders causing chronic pain and lameness, cardiovascular failure, heat stress from metabolic rate, and skin lesions from wet litter. Slower-growing breeds reduce but do not eliminate these problems, while also requiring additional resources. The Better Chicken Commitment has been remarkably successful in mobilising corporate commitments, creating a market incentive structure that may achieve breed welfare improvement at scale within the next few years. Consumer purchasing choices and food service procurement decisions directly influence the pace of this transition.