Valuing higher welfare chicken: Making the financial case for more humane chicken production
Report
This report analyzes the costs and benefits of raising chickens with higher welfare standards in Canada and shows that it is feasible and profitable for the industry and the consumers.
Executive summary:
The global demand for chicken meat is increasing rapidly, but the current production system is unsustainable and cruel. Most chickens are raised in intensive conditions that cause them physical and mental suffering, such as overcrowding, fast growth, lameness, and disease. These conditions also pose risks to human health, food safety, and the environment. This report presents a case for shifting to higher welfare chicken production in Canada, based on the following findings:
Higher welfare chicken production is better for animal welfare and biodiversity. It involves raising slower-growing breeds, providing more space, enrichment, natural light, and outdoor access for the chickens, and using more humane slaughter methods. These practices improve the quality of life and reduce the stress and pain of the chickens. They also support the conservation of genetic diversity and ecosystem services.
Higher welfare chicken production is better for human health and food safety. It reduces the use of antibiotics and the risk of antimicrobial resistance, which are major public health threats. It also improves the nutritional value and taste of chicken meat, as well as its shelf life and safety.
Higher welfare chicken production is better for social and economic development. It creates more jobs and income for farmers and workers, as well as more choices and satisfaction for consumers. It also enhances the reputation and competitiveness of the Canadian chicken industry in the global market.
Higher welfare chicken production is affordable and profitable. It involves higher costs for feed, labor, housing, and processing, but these are offset by lower costs for medication, mortality, waste management, and environmental impact. The net cost increase is estimated to be between 4.6% and 25.8%, depending on the level of welfare improvement. This can be recovered by a price premium of 5% to 26%, which is acceptable for most consumers.
Key points:
- The current chicken production system in Canada is intensive, inefficient, and inhumane. It causes suffering to millions of chickens every year and harms human health, food safety, and the environment.
- There is a growing demand for higher welfare chicken products from consumers, retailers, food service companies, and investors. They are concerned about animal welfare, public health, food quality, and sustainability.
- Higher welfare chicken production is a viable alternative that can benefit animals, people, and the planet. It involves better practices that improve animal welfare, human health, food safety, social development, economic profitability, and environmental sustainability.
- The Canadian chicken industry should adopt higher welfare standards and practices as soon as possible. This will require collaboration among all stakeholders, including producers, processors, retailers, food service companies, consumers, governments, NGOs, and researchers.