Stocking density - the number of animals per unit area - is one of the most important determinants of welfare in intensive farming, affecting behaviour, health, and psychological state.
Stocking density is perhaps the most fundamental welfare variable in intensive farming. The relationship between space and welfare is well-established across species: more space enables natural behaviour, reduces competition, decreases disease transmission, and allows animals to manage social dynamics without chronic stress. Every reduction in stocking density - whether driven by consumer choice, regulation, or voluntary commitment - directly improves welfare for real animals. The cost of higher space standards is real but small relative to the welfare benefit delivered.