New approaches to managing broiler parent flocks are being developed to address the fundamental welfare conflict between rapid growth genetics and feed restriction.
Parent flock hunger is a fundamental welfare problem embedded in the genetics of broiler production. No amount of management improvement can eliminate it without changing the genetics underlying it. Alternative breeds, continuous feeding systems, or precision nutrition that reduces hunger while preventing obesity represent the most promising welfare improvements. Industry investment in this area is growing but remains insufficient relative to the scale of the problem.