Chicken is the most consumed animal protein globally, and its supply chains span dozens of countries with variable welfare standards that are largely invisible to consumers.
Global chicken supply chain welfare is the largest animal welfare problem by individual animal numbers. The scale — tens of billions of animals annually — means that even marginal per-animal welfare improvements have enormous aggregate impact. Modern broiler breeds raised in standard industrial conditions experience chronic respiratory and cardiovascular stress, lameness from rapid growth, and impaired thermoregulation. The most impactful interventions are breed improvement toward slower growth, space allowance increases, environmental enrichment, and slaughter welfare improvements. These changes require either consumer purchasing pressure through certification or legislative requirements that create level playing fields within markets.