Farmed Chicken Broiler Welfare in Hot Countries

Broiler production is growing fastest in tropical and subtropical regions where heat stress represents a severe and constant welfare challenge. Global poultry welfare standards must account for the specific challenges of hot-climate production.

Key Facts

Global chicken production is increasingly concentrated in South and Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America
Temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius are common year-round in many major broiler-producing countries
Traditional open-sided housing provides ventilation but offers limited temperature control during peak heat
Modern closed-house systems with evaporative cooling dramatically reduce heat stress mortality and welfare compromise
Heat stress in broilers causes reduced feed intake, panting, poor growth, and increased mortality
Fast-growing breeds used globally are particularly susceptible to heat stress due to high metabolic rate
Local slower-growing breeds or crossbreeds show better heat tolerance but lower productivity
International welfare standards increasingly recognise that single global stocking density limits ignore climatic variation

Welfare Considerations

Heat stress is the dominant welfare challenge for broiler production in tropical regions, where hundreds of millions of birds face temperatures that cause chronic welfare compromise year-round. The adoption of fast-growing breeds in hot climates without accompanying investment in climate-controlled housing has exported a welfare problem from temperate to tropical production systems. Welfare standards that ignore climatic context fail to protect birds in the majority of the world's broiler-producing countries. Investment in appropriate housing technology is the most impactful welfare intervention available.

What You Can Do

Support international welfare organisations working to improve broiler housing standards in developing countries
Advocate for climate-appropriate welfare standards in global supply chains
Choose certified products from supply chains with verified housing standards wherever possible
Learn about global poultry welfare challenges to understand the international dimension of food welfare