An analysis of government figures by the charity Open Cages reveals that around 64 million chickens die prematurely each year in the UK. Dead birds can be incinerated or turned into usable materials such as protein powder. Chris Packham, the broadcaster and conservationist, said: “I think consumers would be absolutely disgusted to know that a million of these intelligent, sensitive birds die every week to get cheap chicken onto their plates. “The utter misery these animals face on a daily basis is unnecessary and will anger even the most ardent meat-eaters as it serves nothing more than to satisfy the profits of our big supermarkets, who refuse to help them.” Animal welfare campaigners say death rates could be significantly reduced with better welfare standards. They are urging retailers to support the Better Chicken Pledge, an initiative to phase out fast-growing breeds and reduce stocking densities. Welfare experts say the modern chicken is genetically bred to grow so fast that it can put a strain on its body, increasing the risk of cardiac arrest. Research has shown that fast-growing chickens that reach their weight in as little as 35 days can have higher mortality, lameness and muscle disease than slower-growing breeds. One of the most common causes of death in herds is heart failure or sudden death syndrome. Connor Jackson, chief executive of Open Cages, which authored the new report, said: “Supermarkets sell food advertising animals in green fields but never show broilers in sheds. It is appalling that supermarkets continue to sell these fast-growing breeds.’ Road builder and conservationist Chris Packham said consumers would be shocked by the truth about poultry farming conditions. Photo: Aaron Chown/PA While all major retailers in France have signed up to the Better Chicken pledge, it is not yet supported by the biggest supermarkets in Britain. Its backers to date include Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Pret, KFC and foodservice company Compass Group. Sainsbury’s announced in April that its fresh chicken will be raised on 20% more space than the UK standard by March 2023. The British Poultry Council, the trade group for the industry, said: “Our birds are the most valuable part of production, so we work incredibly hard to minimize the level of mortality in the process, which averages around 4%. “We use a variety of production systems, including the Better Chicken Commitment, in line with consumer demand. It has a higher environmental impact and production costs, so it is currently only 1%1 percent of the market. We are an industry driven by consumer preferences.” Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said: “Our members take their responsibilities for animal welfare very seriously and ensure it is a key part of production standards for all the meat they sell. “Retailers are already giving consumers the choice of how their chicken was raised, including free-range and organic, in addition to the standard range.” A Defra spokesman said: “All farmed animals are protected by comprehensive and strong animal health and welfare legislation. We welcome the fact that many businesses have already signed up to the Better Chicken pledge and encourage others to do so. We are exploring how the government can best support this best practice.”
