Introduction
The European ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy, which was adopted back in 2020, aims to improve animal welfare in European livestock farming. To this end, measures to be introduced in the future include the phasing out of cage rearing and the establishment of common, scientifically based indicators for measuring animal welfare. The aim of the indicator survey is to drive forward the harmonisation of animal welfare standards across the EU.
As part of this, the European Commission commissioned the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to produce scientific opinions on the current state of animal welfare in European livestock farming. With regard to poultry farming, EFSA’s Scientific Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW Panel) developed recommendations on the rearing of laying hens, broiler chickens and, for the first time, ducks, geese and quails. These were published in spring 2023. In autumn 2022, the EFSA had already published an opinion on the protection of poultry and rabbits during transport in containers/crates. In October 2023, a mandate was issued to produce a similar opinion on the rearing of turkeys, which has not yet been submitted.
In preparing the EFSA opinions, scientific publications from specialist journals, references from public research institutions and universities, as well as expert assessments, are taken into account.
The opinions describe common husbandry systems and identify factors that may have a negative impact on animal welfare. In addition, recommendations are made regarding measures that could contribute to improving animal welfare in the future and which indicators are suitable for assessing the current state of animal welfare. An economic assessment of the measures mentioned is not carried out at this stage. An additional mandate has been issued for this purpose.
Detailed information on the content of the individual reports:
Protection of laying hens kept in agricultural systems
Protection of farm-reared broiler chickens
Protection of ducks, geese and quails kept on farms
Protection of poultry and rabbits during transport in containers/crates
Just how important the protection of farm animals is to EU citizens became clear back in October 2020, when the first successful European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) on animal protection was submitted to the European Commission (‘End the Cage Age’). In this initiative, around 1.4 million Europeans call on the EU to end the use of cages in farm animal husbandry. A third of the signatures were submitted from Germany
It should be noted that cage rearing of laying hens has been banned in Germany since 1 January 2010. However, this has been replaced by the rearing of laying hens in small groups and so-called enriched cages. But this form of rearing laying hens is also being phased out, as the federal and state governments have agreed on a phase-out period for existing farms until the end of 2025. Consequently, a downward trend has been recorded for years in the number of eggs produced using this method and the corresponding number of laying hens kept in this way. Whilst 718 million eggs were produced in 2021 by an annual average of 2.3 million birds in small-group systems, by 2023 this had fallen to just 162 million eggs from a total of 2 million hens. In line with the trend of previous years, the number of hens in small-group systems fell by 7.4% in 2023 compared with the previous year.
Protection of laying hens kept on farms
This scientific opinion from the EFSA addresses the welfare of laying hens, pullets and parent stock on farms. As part of the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy, the European Commission reviewed, among other things, the animal welfare provisions of Council Directive 1999/74/EC on minimum standards for the protection of laying hens.
Relevant animal welfare issues in the standard systems for rearing laying hens
- Broken bones, dislocations (fractures & dislocations)
- Group stress
- Inability to engage in comfort-seeking behaviour
- Inability to engage in exploratory or foraging behaviour
- Stress caused by isolation
- Stress caused by predators (free-range rearing)
- Restrictions on resting behaviour
- Restrictions on movement
- Skin conditions
- Soft tissue injuries
- Damage to skin tissue (e.g. cannibalism, feather pecking, damage to toes caused by pecking).
The report highlights the positive effects of phasing out existing cage systems for laying hens. Minimum requirements are set out for the housing conditions of laying hens, pullets and parent flocks. Furthermore, the practice of beak trimming to reduce the frequency and severity of pecking outbreaks is examined. This practice is associated with negative consequences for animal welfare; however, rearing flocks without beak trimming also carries risks to animal welfare, e.g. through an increased incidence of pecking damage. In this regard, alternatives are proposed to reduce the sharpness of the beak without trimming. Furthermore, overall mortality, plumage damage, wounds, sternum fractures and carcass rejection are mentioned as promising animal-based indicators for recording in slaughterhouses to monitor the welfare of laying hens on farms.
Animal welfare requirements for laying hens
- Housing all animals in cage-free systems
- Easily accessible raised platforms and/or perches, so that all hens can rest at the same time and avoid each other
- Structural elements that promote comfort and exploratory behaviour
- Constantly dry & loose litter
- Access to a covered veranda to reduce stocking density during the day and allow for a choice of temperatures, lighting conditions and substrate quality
- Additional space where a covered veranda cannot be provided (create climate zones)
- Preventive measures against damage-causing pecking to avoid beak trimming
- Promotion of advances in genetic selection using protocols for recording animal welfare traits (e.g. sternum fractures and plumage condition), so that farmers can select lines with a lower risk of bone and soft tissue injuries as well as skin injuries.
- Introduction of harmonised assessment methods and scoring systems on-farm to monitor mortality, wounds, plumage damage, sternum fractures and carcass rejects
- Rearing of pullets in warm & dark brooder boxes (mimicking a mother hen) to reduce anxiety during rearing & the laying period
- Housing systems that support/promote animal mobility
- Reduction of aggression in parent flocks by reducing the proportion of cocks in flocks (below 1:10), selection of less aggressive cocks, installation of partitions so that hens can escape from cocks, and promotion of interaction between animals of similar age
Protection of farm-reared broiler chickens
This opinion addresses the welfare of broiler chickens, day-old chicks and parent stock on the farm. As in the previous opinion on laying hens, the main housing systems in the EU are described. The relevant impacts on animal welfare for each system, as well as the corresponding animal-based indicators for monitoring welfare levels, are examined. As part of its ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy, the European Commission is, amongst other things, revising the animal welfare regulations for the protection of broiler chickens kept for meat production and covered by the ‘Broiler Directive’ (Council Directive 2007/43/EC). This Directive does not currently apply to breeding stock and hatcheries. The key indicators for monitoring animal welfare in broiler chickens are overall mortality on the farm, the presence of wounds, the rejection of carcasses and foot pad dermatitis.
Relevant animal welfare issues in the standard systems of broiler chicken rearing
- Fractures
- Cold stress
- Inability to engage in comfort-seeking behaviour
- Inability to engage in exploratory or foraging behaviour
- Stress caused by isolation
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Persistent thirst
- Heat stress
- Persistent hunger
- Stress caused by handling
- Musculoskeletal disorders (e.g. lameness)
- Stress caused by predators (free-range rearing)
- Restricted movement
- Disturbances in resting behaviour
- Group stress
- Soft tissue and integumentary damage (skin lesions)
- Sensory under- or overstimulation
- Current very high stocking densities; stocking densities of > 11 kg/m² lead to increased footpad dermatitis, reduce walking ability and impair comfort and exploratory behaviour
- Ammonia levels > 15 ppm (parts per million) impair the welfare of broiler chickens
Relevant animal welfare issues in the standard husbandry practices for breeding stock
- Restrictions on feed and water lead to prolonged hunger and thirst
- Continuing genetic selection for rapid growth rates will further exacerbate the negative consequences for the animals’ welfare
- Housing of grandparent and great-grandparent birds and purebred lines in individual bare cages leads to isolation and stress during handling, and impairs exploratory, feeding and comfort behaviours, as well as movement and resting behaviours
- In mixed groups, hens are unable to escape the excessive mating drive of the roosters
Amputations are widespread in broiler farming across the EU and impair welfare, but can be avoided through appropriate management practices.
Animal welfare requirements for broiler chickens
- Limiting the growth rate of broiler chickens to a maximum of 50 g/day
- Reduction in stocking density
- Dry & loose litter, fresh litter after the second week of production
- Covered veranda for broilers and broiler producers from 2 weeks of age?
- Access to an outdoor area, 70% of which is covered with vegetation
- Accessible, raised platforms with ramps and perches
- No amputations
- No cage rearing
- No feed or water restrictions
- Development of alternative methods for data collection (Precision Livestock Farming)
- Ammonia concentration < 15 ppm
- Ambient lighting of at least 20 lux
- Dark brooders, which simulate the behaviour of the mother hen, thereby promoting restful behaviour and reducing sensory overstimulation
- Transport of fertilised eggs & hatching in the house
- Incubation of eggshells ≤ 37.8 °C
- Overall mortality on the farm, injured birds, carcass rejects & foot pad dermatitis should be monitored at the slaughterhouse
- Accessible perches in parent flocks to reduce the risk of mobility problems and stress, and to promote resting behaviour
- Further research on:
- Use of new technologies (Precision Livestock Farming)
- Specific features of raised platforms & perches
- Concentrations of ammonia, CO₂ and dust in housing
- Effects of group size on the welfare of broiler chickens
- Effects of providing wet feed in hatcheries on the welfare of day-old chicks
Protection of farmed ducks, geese and quails
For the first time, the EFSA issued a scientific opinion assessing the welfare of ducks and geese on farms; however, this opinion did not address the aspects of feather and down harvesting, foie gras production, the rearing of birds for hunting or other uses of the animals besides fattening, or transport and slaughter. With regard to the recommendations issued, the EFSA acknowledges a certain degree of uncertainty due to the scarcity of available scientific literature and data.
Housing systems for the following ducks and geese were assessed:
- Peking duck: kept primarily for breeding and meat production
- Muscovy duck: kept primarily for breeding, meat production and foie gras production (production prohibited in Germany; import permitted)
- Mulards: hybrids of female domestic/Peking ducks and male Muscovy ducks, kept in the EU (not in Germany) primarily for the production of foie gras.
- Domestic goose: kept for meat and foie gras production (not in Germany; import permitted)
- Japanese quail: kept for breeding and the production of eggs and meat
Animal welfare requirements for waterbirds
Enrichment
- Flat, bedded floors to better support exploration and foraging behaviour
- Maintenance of good-quality bedding (dry, crumbly and free from physical, chemical and microbiological hazards)
Water supply
- Access to open water surfaces for bathing and wetting the head prevents or reduces soft tissue injuries and skin irritation, group stress, and enables more comfort-seeking, exploratory and foraging behaviour
- Drainage around water points to prevent waterlogging
Enrichment materials
- Silage or hay encourages exploratory and foraging behaviour & reduces the risk of feather pecking & cannibalism in ducks
- Musk ducks enjoy using elevated structures, such as perches
Outdoor access
- Access to the outdoors provides positive environmental stimuli, amongst other things, but poses a challenge for management (predators & biosecurity)
- Alternatively, a covered veranda or a covered outdoor run offers the benefits of an outdoor area
Space requirements
- Minimum height for domestic ducks 66 cm, for Muscovy and Moulard ducks 96 cm, for domestic geese 127 cm; however, the total height must allow a person to monitor the animals
- More space (three-dimensional) to allow for species-specific behaviours (including water bathing)
- No individual housing
Group structure
- The ratio of geese/ducks to ganders/drakes is important in groups of adult animals to prevent excessive sexual behaviour and aggression between males.
- However, there is currently no scientific evidence regarding a maximum group size
Nesting behaviour
- Provision of soft & malleable nesting material
- Availability and quality of nests (size, nesting material, location, light levels and design) are important for welfare and nesting behaviour
- Shared use of a single nest within a group is possible over time; the nest-to-female ratio is important to prevent competition and egg-laying on the floor
Housing systems
- All individual, pair or group cages, as well as all housing systems used for foie gras production, should be avoided as they have a negative impact on animal welfare
- Preventive measures should be applied to all housing systems
Protecting poultry and rabbits during transport in containers/crates
The scientific opinion on the transport of animals in containers outlines the various effects on animal welfare during the different stages of transport, the causes of these welfare impairments, and the animal-specific indicators used to assess them. As with all animal species, transportability is of paramount importance. For animals transported in containers/crates (poultry and rabbits), for example, EFSA recommends that the duration of transport should be considered as the total time the animals spend in the containers.
The only way to avoid impacts on the welfare of day-old chicks is to transport fertilised eggs and hatch them at the destination farm. To reduce the impact of transport on animal welfare, more space, lower temperatures and a shorter transport duration are required compared to current regulations and practices.
The Netherlands is now leading the way as the first EU Member State with regard to the catching of poultry during loading. On 4 June 2024, the Netherlands’ highest administrative court, the Court of Appeal for Trade and Industry (CBb), ruled that catchers are no longer permitted to lift poultry by the legs (upside down) in order to place it in crates or a container.
Relevant animal welfare issues relating to the transport of poultry
- Cold stress is a particular problem for laying hens at the end of their laying cycle, as they have little body fat and are often poorly feathered
- Unfitness for transport: obvious signs of illness, cachexia, severe lameness (unable to stand and/or walk more than a few steps), open wounds and prolapses, poor plumage (at low temperatures), fractures (legs, wings, etc.), dislocations, e.g. of legs or wings, and wet plumage (at low temperatures)
- In ducks and geese, wet plumage does not pose a risk
- Laying hens with poor plumage are unfit for transport in cold temperatures without preventive or corrective measures
- Carrying the birds upside down by their legs during catching/loading increases stress and the risk of dislocated joints, leg or wing fractures & haematomas (bruises) compared to catching and carrying the birds in an upright position
- At an apparent equivalent temperature (AET = apparent equivalent temperature, a combination of temperature and relative humidity inside the container) < 40AET, laying hens are not exposed to heat stress (safe zone); at 40–65 AET, there is an increased risk of heat stress (warning zone); > 65 AET, the birds’ mechanisms for coping with heat stress are less effective, and there is a risk of heat stress (danger zone)
The German Weather Service provides a weather map showing heat stress levels from May to September.
- Fasting begins when the supply of feed is stopped on the farm and ends when all animals have been fed or slaughtered
- Withholding feed for > 12 hours results in prolonged hunger and the breakdown of intestinal cells
The occurrence of individual types of animal welfare problems varied depending on the stage, type and duration of transport.
Animal welfare requirements for the transport of poultry
- Sufficient space in the crates to allow all animals to sit at the same time
- Sufficient space so that the comb or head does not touch the ceiling when the animals are in a natural posture or changing position
- Effective prevention of heat stress, in particular through mechanical ventilation or air conditioning
- Maximum transport time of 12 hours, including fasting at the farm
- Transport of fertilised eggs instead of day-old chicks (‘hatching on the farm’)
- Definition of transport fitness with guidelines and thresholds based on animal-related indicators
- Training for all those involved in transport
- Proper maintenance of vehicles
- Clarify the responsibilities of all groups involved
- Checking consignments with a Dead on Arrival (DoA) rate exceeding 0.1%
- Always carry poultry upright during catching and loading; do not swing, throw or drop them
- Transport poultry within the safe temperature zone (< 40 AET); if the value exceeds 65 AET, limit the journey time to a maximum of 4 hours
- Total duration of feed withdrawal < 6 hours to avoid prolonged hunger during transport, or < 12 hours to prevent prolonged hunger during transport
- Avoid withholding feed on the farm, as there is no scientific evidence of the benefits of fasting prior to transport
- Transport duration should include the entire time the animals are kept in the containers
- Periods that should be taken into account when defining the maximum transport duration:
- Time spent without feed at the holding in preparation for transport
- Time taken to load all animals
- Time spent by all animals in the containers/crates before, during and after transport
- Time taken to unload all animals (from the first to the last animal)
- The maximum journey time should be 12 hours
Good animal welfare practices not only promote the animals’ well-being in themselves, but also contribute to better animal health. Given the close link between animal welfare, animal health and foodborne diseases, animal welfare is a key element in ensuring the safety of the food chain in line with the One Health principle.
More Welfare Project
In addition to its groundbreaking scientific opinions on new animal welfare legislation, the EFSA has set itself the goal, as part of the More Welfare Project, of developing new (quantitative and qualitative) methods for assessing the welfare of animals used for food production by 2027. The collection of standardised, high-quality animal welfare data is set to begin by 2030. To this end, existing methods for assessing animal welfare for various species used for food production will first be documented through literature reviews, secondary research, online surveys and workshops. Subsequently, gaps in data and knowledge, as well as potential challenges and obstacles in assessing animal welfare, will be identified.