A “Viewpoints” article
by Allison Pullin, PhD
Prestage Department of Poultry Science
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
As poultry companies weigh cost and efficiency with higher animal welfare standards, research comparing conventional and slow-growing broiler breeds showed that the slow-growing chickens displayed behaviors more closely associated with positive welfare.
The chicken carcass is the broiler industry’s final product, but a range of issues can affect its quality and, ultimately, the amount of edible food available for consumers. For producers, there are a variety of ways to manage outcomes, says an industry expert — starting with the earliest stages of birds’ lives.
