Farming, the animal welfare of chickens in Italy remains at a standstill

The second European ChickenTrack report by Compassion in World Farming highlights progress in chicken welfare in Europe, with notable improvements in France and the UK, but Italy lagging behind. The report, analyzing 85 companies across eight countries, shows an increase in companies reporting progress towards the European Chicken Commitment (ECC) standards, from 39% in 2022 to 65% in 2023. Key welfare criteria include using slower growing breeds, maintaining lower stocking densities, providing adequate light and environmental enrichments, and adopting humane stunning methods. Despite advancements, many companies still fail to meet essential ECC criteria, underscoring the need for continued efforts towards humane poultry farming practices.