Modern broiler and laying hen breeds have been selected primarily for production traits at the cost of welfare, and breed reform is increasingly recognised as a foundational welfare intervention.
Breed selection sits at the root of many of the worst welfare problems in poultry farming. A chicken that grows so fast its heart and lungs cannot keep up, or a hen that lays so many eggs her bones dissolve from calcium depletion, is experiencing welfare harm that cannot be resolved by husbandry improvements alone. Breed reform addresses these harms at source. The Better Chicken Commitment, signed by major European retailers and food companies, is the most significant industry commitment to broiler breed reform and is beginning to drive real supply chain change. Consumer and retailer pressure on breed has been more effective than regulatory approaches in many markets.