The Welfare of Chickens Kept for Meat Production (Broilers) - Report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare - Adopted 21 March 2000

Aug 22, 2026

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Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare report addressing welfare considerations for chickens kept for meat production (broilers). It sets out a request for opinion, provides background, and defines animal welfare alongside practical definitions and measurement approaches. The report explains welfare concepts and how farm-animal welfare is assessed, then details welfare-relevant outcomes in broilers, including mortality and morbidity, body condition and reproduction, behavior, and physiology. It further covers broiler biology and behavior, production practices and legal conditions, and identifies major welfare problems such as mortality, skeletal and muscle disorders, contact dermatitis, ascites and sudden death syndrome, and respiratory or mucous membrane issues.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages150

Reading Time6 h 18 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

1 REQUEST FOR OPINION

2 BACKGROUND

3 WELFARE-DEFINITIONS AND MEASUREMENTS

4 BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR OF FOWL/BROILER

5 BROILER PRODUCTION OF TODAY

6 WELFARE PROBLEMS IN BROILERS

SANCO.B.3/AH/R15/2000 EUROPEAN COMMISSION HEALTH & CONSUMER PROTECTION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL Directorate B-Scientific Health Opinions Unit B3-Management of scientific committees II The Welfare of Chickens Kept for Meat Production (Broilers) Report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare Adopted 21 March 2000 The Welfare of Chickens Kept for Meat Production (Broilers) CONTENTS 1 REQUEST FOR OPINION .................................................................................................... 4 2 BACKGROUND..................................................................................................................... 4 3 WELFARE-DEFINITIONS AND MEASUREMENTS....................................................... 5 3.1 THE CONCEPT OF ANIMAL WELFARE........................................................................................ 5 3.2 THE ASSESSMENT OF FARM ANIMAL WELFARE ......................................................................... 5 3.3 THE ASSESSMENT OF WELFARE IN BROILERS ............................................................................ 6 3.3.1 Mortality and morbidity.............................................................................................. 6 3.3. 2 Body condition and reproduction ................................................................................ 6 3.3.3 Behaviour ................................................................................................................... 6 3.3.4 Physiology .................................................................................................................. 7 4 BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR OF FOWL/BROILER ....................................................... 8 4.1 CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH NORMAL BEHAVIOUR OF FOWL ....................................... 8 4.2 SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF BROILER BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR ........................................................ 9 5 BROILER PRODUCTION OF TODAY ............................................................................. 12 5.1 SIZE AND IMPORTANCE OF BROILER PRODUCTION .................................................................. 12 5.2 LEGAL REGULATIONS FOR BROILER PRODUCTION .................................................................. 15 5.3 REARING CONDITIONS ......................................................................................................... 16 5.3. 1 Methods of feed restriction ........................................................................................ 20 5.3.2 Buildings................................................................................................................... 20 5.4 SELECTION OF MEAT TYPE CHICKEN...................................................................................... 20 5.5 CONSEQUENCES OF GENETIC SELECTION .............................................................................. 25 5.5.1 Metabolic Traits........................................................................................................ 26 5.5.2 Reproduction ............................................................................................................ 26 5.5.3 Health....................................................................................................................... 26 5.5.4 Behaviour ................................................................................................................. 27 6 WELFARE PROBLEMS IN BROILERS ........................................................................... 29 6.1 MORTALITY ........................................................................................................................ 29 6.1.1 General remarks ....................................................................................................... 29 6.1.2 Early mortality...................................................................

FAQs

What is the purpose of the report on broiler welfare?

The report provides a scientific opinion on welfare issues for chickens kept for meat production (broilers), framed as a request for opinion with supporting background and welfare assessment concepts.

How does the report define and measure animal welfare?

It presents welfare definitions and measurement approaches, including the concept of animal welfare and methods for assessing farm animal welfare, with specific assessment focus for broilers.

Which welfare problems in broilers are discussed?

The contents outline major welfare problems including mortality (general remarks, early mortality, and older broilers), skeletal disorders, muscle disorders, contact dermatitis, ascites and sudden death syndrome, and respiratory/mucous membrane problems (including infectious diseases and vaccine reactions).

Aug 22, 2026

Uploaded by Anda