Farm Animals

Poultry Welfare: Male Broiler Growth Challenges

Male broilers grow faster than females and face proportionally greater welfare challenges including higher rates of leg problems and cardiovascular disease.

Key Facts

Male broilers reach slaughter weight approximately 3 days faster than females and are typically processed separately
Faster-growing males have proportionally higher rates of ascites, sudden death syndrome, and leg problems
Sex-separate rearing allows management to be optimised for the specific welfare needs of each sex
Female-only welfare standards may underestimate the welfare challenges facing male broilers

Welfare Considerations

Male broiler welfare challenges are proportionally greater than female challenges due to faster growth rates, yet welfare standards are rarely sex-specific. Recognising and addressing the welfare differences between male and female broilers is an important refinement in welfare standards development.

What You Can Do

Support research on sex-specific welfare challenges and management approaches in broiler production
Advocate for welfare standards to reflect the different welfare profiles of male and female broilers
Engage with breed selection discussions that consider sex-specific welfare as well as overall performance