Denmark: Sternal fractures in laying hens require adjustment on breeding

The European Agriculture and Fisheries Council met on 12 and 13 December to address the issue of breastbone fractures in laying hens, with 85% of animals in Denmark showing signs of this injury. The fractures are attributed to breeding practices that favor smaller animals, making it more difficult for them to lay eggs. Denmark and the Netherlands have called for a revision of these breeding targets as part of the process to update the EU's animal welfare rules, although more research is desired to corroborate the link between breeding and sternum fractures. The issue was recognized as one requiring a comprehensive European approach, involving examination of the problem in an international context and enhancing support for genetic selection programs to prevent such abuses. European Agriculture Commissioner Wojciechowski underlined the importance of balancing animal welfare with breeding objectives and stressed the need for guidance from the European Food Safety Authority before any decisions are made.