Over the past couple of decades, there has been significant improvements in animal welfare in poultry farming. For instance, the EU and other countries have banned conventional cages.
Even more significant is the fact the EU is set to ban all cage systems for animal farming by 2027. Naturally, such change in poultry farming regulation will take effect in other countries soon thereafter.
In this article, we speculate the future of poultry farming. In particular, we discuss 3 seismic changes that we think will redefine animal welfare in poultry farming.
- Multigenerational flocking
- Multipurpose flocking
- Extensive poultry farming
However, we do not think these will happen at the same time, nor become the norm in all farms. Since they’re already implemented in backyard and some commercial farms, they are likely to become mainstream gradually.
Animal welfare in poultry farming
The talk around animal welfare in poultry farming has largely revolved around the affordances for chicken to engage in a few natural behaviours. In general, these have included scratching, dirt bathing, nesting, and perching. This is not to mention sufficient space allocation, proper housing, feed and water provision, and so on.
Natural poultry behaviors that have largely remained sidelined are access to outdoors, and direct sunlight, and affordances to engage in natural social behaviors. Effectively, most birds are raised in single purpose and generation flocks which significantly reduce their ability for social engagement.
At the basis of animal welfare ideology is the notion that animals are beings with feelings. Consequently, they must be allowed to freely engage in their animal life as deeply as is possible.
Animal welfare therefore cannot be concerned with token creature comforts. On the contrary it must strive to afford natural individual and social behaviors so animals can deeply experience their feeling-nature.
In addition to current improvements in animal welfare, we foresee 3 changes that will change poultry farming as we know it. These are multigenerational flocking, multipurpose flocking and a preference for intensive poultry systems. We will come back to these later in the article.
Factors driving animal welfare in poultry farming
Animal welfare advocacy
Animal welfare advocacy groups have been a huge driving force leading to the recognition of the need to safeguard animal welfare. Additionally, campaigns and efforts by such groups have not been limited to poultry farming.
Nonetheless, animal welfare advocacy have contributed significantly in the definition of animal welfare. Furthermore, their work has resulted in animal welfare regulation. That the EU banned battery cage systems for layers in 2012 is no small feat.
Consumer awareness and demand
As animal produce consumers become aware of conventional farming practices, they are calling for improvements and reformation. In recognition that their own health depends on the quality of animal produce, they various consumer and citizen campaigns have called for improvements of farming practices.
The publishing of animal cruelty content on social media has also led to a rise in consumer awareness and demand for improved welfare.
Poultry farmers
We tend to overlook that poultry farmers have made contributions to animal welfare. A lot of innovation in poultry farming have been the work of poultry farmers. For instance, improvements in breeding, feeding, housing and so on, have come as a result of farmer initiative. However, it is evident that farmers have somehow ended up dropping the ball, as it were.
Multiple reasons point to the current state of animal welfare in poultry farming. These include cut throat competition and other market dynamics. Nonetheless, farmers must be empowered to lead the way to improved animal farming.
Regulatory bodies
Sure enough, animal welfare is a conversation to be had amongst all these parties. Namely, farmers, consumers, advocacy groups and regulators. Respectively, these parties are redefining the future of farming, sometimes in ways that they cannot yet comprehend.
It is with farming regulatory bodies where input, concerns and aims from these various parties come together and are actualized. Of course, in one form or another. And it is here that farming will be redefined for the better.
Competition from cultivated “meats”
In order to compete with alternative and cultivated “meats” poultry farmers will have to significantly improve their practices.
One of the arguments for alternative “meats” is that animal farming is cruel, and sometimes inhumane. In contrast, producers of alternative and cultivated “meats” claim that their produce causes minimal animal suffering if any.
We will let the scientists hash out the details here. We are aware of the criticism and impracticalities of cultivated “meats” as alternatives to animal farming. However, on the same footing, we are sure poultry farmers are aware of criticism of their practices particularly from their cultivated “meat” competitors.
Certainly, we can expect farmers’ response to this competition to result to improved animal welfare.
Changes that will redefine animal welfare in poultry farming
As we already mentioned, we are speculating on possible poultry farming future. Since we cannot predict the future, take our word with a grain of salt. That being said, below we present 3 seismic changes that we think will change poultry farming as we know it.
1. Multigenerational flocking
Having multigenerational flocks instead of single generational flocks we think is the future of poultry farming. Of course this is easier said than done. Chicken can be selfish animals and do tend to attack chicks which they have not parented.
As a result, multigenerational flocking may suggest changes to incubation practices. Certainly there are other methods to promote parenting behavior in flocks and to reduce aggression of chicks. What is undeniable in multigenerational flocking is the improved social engagement of birds in their flocks. From an animal welfare point of view, these cannot be overlooked.
Multigenerational flocking has been practiced for millennia and is still a thing with backyard poultry farmers. However, there are some inefficiencies associated with the practice. It will be upto farmers to get back to the drawing board, as it were, and figure out how to make multigenerational flocking efficient and effective.
2. Multipurpose flocking
One notable practice of commercial poultry farming is its focus on single purpose flocking. In essence, birds are separated at day 1 and raised in layer or broiler only flocks.
Depending on who you ask, such separation, can have all sorts of implications to chicken welfare. We could claim that that separation in itself is animal cruelty. Without question such separation prevents respective animals from engaging in certain social behaviors.
As a result, as long as animal welfare is concerned about animals being able to free engage in their natural behaviors, the issue of chicken separation must be addressed.
Of course multipurpose flocking is nothing new. Backyard and even some commercial farmers already practice this. Since we are speculating, we do not think multipurpose flocking would affect flock productivity. But it will be best if scientists can show us the data.
3. Extensive poultry systems
Intensive poultry housing systems have a fundamental shortcoming in regards to animal welfare. In contrast to extensive systems, they do not allow birds access to the outdoors and direct sunlight.
As a result, we think that the future of poultry farming will be in extensive housing systems. Due to weather and other considerations, semi intensive may become the de facto poultry housing system.
Nonetheless, as long as the objective is improved animal welfare, we can expect extensive poultry systems to become widely take up by commercial farmers. With the current ban on traditional cage system and on coming ban on all cage systems, a decline of intensive systems is already taking place. In addition, aviaries have already proven less productive than cage systems, so we don’t see them becoming mainstream.
Implications of animal welfare in poultry farming
If such significant changes were to be implemented, poultry farming will never be the same again. We see the oncoming EU’s ban of all cage systems in animal farming as a watershed moment. Inescapably, it will signal to respective parties that there is no limit to what can be achieved for animal welfare.
Consequently, we can only expect more progressive improvements not just in the EU, but also in other countries. Additionally, such changes will have impact in the respective markets. Below are 3 changes that we foresee.
Higher produce quality
Improved animal welfare will result to higher produce quality. Since improved welfare and creature comforts mean healthier flocks, naturally, produce quality will be better.
Of course we will need data to support that claim but our informed guess still sort of makes sense.
Nonetheless, higher produce quality will result to farmers being proud of their farming, even willing to allow farm visits and what have you. Consumers on the other hand will be happy knowing that they are paying for premium, not average products.
New produce certifications
These changes in poultry farming are likely to result to a new produce certification category. Certainly, consumers will demand new produce certification categories so they are informed of their choices. Moreover, in order to differentiate their produce, respective farmers will create and use new produce certifications.
On the other hand, we can expect the rise of new produce certification bodies around these new brave farmers. As of what those new certification categories may be called, we’ve no idea. However, we remain hopeful of that future.
New niche markets
Premium animal produce and new produce certifications will most definitely result to niche markets. Just as organic produce are a niche nowadays, we can expect the emergence of respective niche markets.
Such niche markets may be expensive for general consumers, in the short term. However, such markets and demand for premium produce will in themselves drive further adoption of improved animal welfare by more poultry farmers. Increased production of premium produce will in turn bring prices down in the long run.