Progress on broiler chicken welfare through industry commitments and regulatory changes represents real improvement for billions of birds while substantial challenges remain.
Broiler welfare reform represents one of the most consequential ongoing campaigns in animal welfare, given the extraordinary number of birds affected: approximately 70 billion annually. Progress through corporate commitments and regulatory change has been real: slower-growing breeds with dramatically better leg health and mobility, enriched environments with natural light and perching, and higher welfare slaughter standards are being adopted at scale in some markets. Remaining challenges include implementation lag behind commitment dates, the exclusion of most global production from current reform efforts, and the need to extend welfare standards to all stages of production including the parent flocks that supply broiler chicks. The trajectory is positive but the scale of remaining welfare harm requires sustained pressure.