Farmed Broiler Welfare: The Slow-Growth Transition

The Better Chicken Commitment asks food companies to transition to slower-growing broiler breeds by 2026, representing potentially the largest coordinated improvement in farmed animal welfare in history.

Key Facts

Over 300 companies globally have signed the Better Chicken Commitment, including major food service companies
Slower-growing breeds take 56-62 days to reach market weight versus 35-42 days for conventional breeds
Welfare outcomes including leg health, cardiovascular function, and behavioral indicators are significantly better in slower-growing birds
The welfare improvement from breed change alone exceeds the improvement from most other single housing interventions
Slower-growing production costs approximately 20-40% more per bird, raising retail price by 5-15% depending on the product

Welfare Considerations

The Better Chicken Commitment represents a uniquely scalable welfare intervention. Unlike regulations that require legislative processes, corporate commitments can be made and implemented relatively quickly. The welfare evidence for slower-growing breeds is robust: lower rates of cardiac failure, better leg health, higher activity levels, and lower mortality. The cost premium is real but modest at the consumer level. Corporate commitments that have been signed but not yet implemented represent pending welfare improvements for billions of chickens annually. Holding food companies to their commitments through consumer pressure and advocacy is a high-leverage welfare action.

What You Can Do

Ask food companies and restaurants where they are in their Better Chicken Commitment implementation timeline
Choose chicken products from producers already using slower-growing breeds where certified and available
Support organizations tracking corporate Better Chicken Commitment implementation and holding laggards accountable
Reduce chicken consumption to lower total demand on intensive broiler production systems