Small-scale poultry production in Asia accounts for billions of animals with welfare conditions varying enormously. Understanding the welfare context informs global advocacy priorities.
Poultry welfare in Asia represents the largest-scale animal welfare challenge globally given the enormous numbers of animals involved and the range of welfare conditions from traditional backyard systems to highly intensive industrial facilities. The welfare dynamics differ significantly from Western contexts: smallholder systems may provide better behavioral welfare but worse health management, while intensive systems provide better disease control but worse behavioral welfare. Global welfare advocacy must engage with these regional dynamics rather than applying Western welfare frameworks uncritically. The opportunities for welfare improvement are enormous given the scale, but require culturally appropriate engagement with producers, governments, and consumers.