Broiler Chicken Welfare: Progress on Industry Commitments

Broiler chicken welfare has become one of the most significant farm animal welfare battlegrounds, with major food companies making public commitments to higher standards and animal welfare organizations tracking progress.

Key Facts

The Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) asks companies to adopt slower-growing breeds, increased space, enrichment, improved lighting, and controlled atmosphere stunning by 2026
Slow-growing broiler breeds have significantly better welfare outcomes including reduced leg problems, cardiovascular disease, and mortality compared to standard fast-growing genetics
Over 200 major food companies globally have signed the Better Chicken Commitment, though implementation timelines and compliance vary significantly
Leg disorders affecting standard broilers cause chronic pain in a significant proportion of the 70 billion chickens produced annually worldwide
Consumer awareness campaigns have been instrumental in driving corporate commitments — public pressure remains the primary mechanism for accountability

Welfare Considerations

Broiler welfare represents one of the largest-scale animal welfare problems globally given the sheer number of animals affected. Progress on corporate commitments is real but uneven — some companies are meeting targets while others lag significantly. Continued pressure, transparent progress reporting, and consumer choice are essential for converting commitments into actual welfare improvements for the billions of birds raised each year.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken products from companies with verified progress on Better Chicken Commitment implementation
Use tools like the Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare to assess company performance
Contact food companies to express support for their welfare commitments and accountability on timelines
Reduce overall chicken consumption or shift to products with verified higher welfare standards