EU: EFSA makes recommendations to improve broiler and hen welfare

To improve the welfare of farmed broiler chickens and laying hens, scientists from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have made various recommendations and published 2 scientific opinions. The scientific opinion on improving the welfare of laying hens and the other on improving the welfare of farmed broilers have been published and include advice on space, density of animals, lighting, dust, noise, litter and structures such as elevated platforms. “Our experts assessed the husbandry systems used in the European Union for broiler chickens and laying hens and identified hazards to which the birds are exposed and the associated consequences for their welfare,” said EFSA. Based on animal responses, they described ways to assess the birds’ welfare and, in addition, proposed ways to prevent or mitigate the negative welfare consequences that they identified. “The two assessments cover the entire production cycle from breeding and raising young birds to farming broilers and laying ...