ANIMAL FORUM

>Pats Note: Falling out amongst themselves now. Nothing to do with welfare.
>Everything to do with subscriptions.
>
>http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23368211-details/RSPCA%20exposes%20horror%20of%20intensive%20chicken%20farming/article.do
>
>RSPCA exposes horror of intensive chicken farming
>
>26.09.06
>
>Chicken factory farms were slammed by the RSPCA with new research
>identifying cruelty on a massive scale.
>
>Tens of millions of weak and injured factory birds die every year because
>their bodies cannot cope with regimes designed to speed their growth.
>
>While many more suffer painful leg burns, which are caused by the acidic
>filth on the floor of the barns.
>
>However, new research from the RSPCA shows that offering more humane rearing
>conditions can generate dramatic welfare benefits.
>
>It found a reduction of 65 per cent in the number of birds that die or are
>destroyed because they are sick and injured.
>
>At the same time, there was an 82 per cent reduction in painful hock burn
>and 46 per cent reduction in foot pad burn.
>
>The animal welfare charity looked at chickens reared indoors to current
>industry standards - under the Red Tractor logo scheme. These standards
>apply to 90 per cent of the 860m chicken reared every year.
>
>These were compared to those reared indoors to the RSPCAs specifications
>for chicken farmers under its Freedom Food scheme.
>
>Researcher found that some 5.1 per cent of birds reared to the industry
>standards die while being reared. This compares to 1.8 per cent for farms
>operating to RSPCA rules.
>
>The RSPCA said Red Tractor standards allocate less space than a sheet of
>A4 paper to each chicken in a shed.
>
>The birds are kept in near constant dim light. This keeps the birds eating
>for longer and discourages activity to maximise their growth.
>
>They are bred to grow very quickly which can cause them a variety of health
>problems such as heart failure and lameness. Many collapse onto the floors
>of the sheds, which exposes them to acidic ammonia.
>
>Today, factory farm chicken grow to slaughter weight of around two kilos in
>just 38 days, which is more than twice the growth rate of 30 years ago.
>
>Senior scientific officer at the RSPCA, Dr Marc Cooper, said the evidence of
>higher injuries and deaths in the factory farms is clear.
>
>He said: This is the first study of its kind which provides clear evidence
>that meat chickens raised to the RSPCAs strict welfare standards suffer a
>significantly lower incidence of some serious health problems compared to
>standard chickens.
>
>The RSPCA Freedom Food regime allows birds more space; gives brighter
>lighting during the day and a longer dark period at night to allow a proper
>rest period.
>
>The barns have perches, straw bales and pecking objects to encourage
>activity and the expression of natural behaviour.
>
>The birds are selected from genetically slower growing breeds to help
>overcome the serious welfare problems associated with faster growth rates.
>The RSPCA scheme is not alone in guaranteeing higher welfare. Organic and
>free range producers offer even more space and scope for the birds to enjoy
>a natural existence.
>
>Dr Cooper said: Consumers hold the power to improve the lives of millions
>of chickens by voting with their shopping baskets and choosing higher
>welfare labelled chicken such as Freedom Food, free-range or organic.
>
>If more consumers demand higher welfare chicken, more supermarkets will
>stock it and more farmers will raise their standards.

>Consumers can drive this process and it costs less than you think.
>Birds produced to higher welfare standards do cost more than those from
>conventional intensive units. The price will be Ł5-Ł6 versus Ł3-Ł4 for
>standard birds.
>
>However, the RSPCA insists this is a small price to pay to avoid cruelty on
>a massive scale.
>
>The National Farmers Union defended the industrys Red Tractor scheme,
>saying it ensured that chicken welfare is not compromised.
>
>Chairman of the NFU poultry board, Charles Bourns, said he previously reared
>his own chickens according to the RSPCAs Freedom Food standards but had not
>seen any improvement in their overall health.

>I think the RSPCA, rather than criticising the way we rear our chicken,
>should sell their scheme on its merits - if there any, he said.
>
>This has annoyed farmers because we work very hard and we dont compromise
>welfare at all. People should have confidence to buy the Red Tractor
>chicken.
>Certainly the birds welfare wont have been compromised in its production.