Farm Animals

Broiler Welfare Metrics and Progress

Tracking broiler welfare metrics over time reveals where progress has been made and where action is still needed. Understanding these metrics helps advocates direct efforts for maximum impact.

Key Facts

Gait scoring in broilers indicates leg health and welfare with score 3 and above indicating significant impairment
Hock burn rates reflect litter quality and welfare outcomes over the flock lifetime
Mortality rates in broilers have been used as a proxy welfare indicator in regulatory systems including the EU Directive
Footpad dermatitis scoring provides a welfare measure that also reflects broader litter and environment management

Welfare Considerations

Broiler welfare metrics create accountability by making welfare outcomes measurable and trackable over time and across farms. Gait scoring, footpad dermatitis, hock burn, and mortality rates provide an objective picture of broiler welfare that allows comparisons between production systems, monitoring of trend improvements, and identification of problem areas. Making these metrics publicly available creates market accountability for welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Support poultry welfare certification schemes that require outcome metric reporting including gait scoring and footpad dermatitis
Ask retailers about the welfare metrics of their broiler suppliers and whether these are publicly reported
Advocate for mandatory welfare metric reporting for commercial broiler producers in your jurisdiction
Learn about broiler welfare metrics to evaluate welfare claims in food product marketing