Charity say Northamptonshire farmers breaking the law by growing 'frankenchickens'
Animal welfare charity The Humane League say they've contacted 25 farmers over the fast growing large chickens.
Thousands of UK chicken farmers, including 25 in Northamptonshire, could be in breach of law, according to a warning out today from an animal welfare charity.
The Humane League UK says it's contacted 1,600 UK farmers who may be breaking the law by breeding so called Frankenchickens.
These are chickens who have been breed to grow very big very fast and are alive for barely a month, (35 days) which causes defects and diseases according to the charities Head of Programs Katie Ferneyhough:
"We've done investigations into many supermarkets and seen that you have this thing called hockburns where you can see those skin burns. You can see the green muscle disease you can see, things like white striping, which is when the fat builds up in the chicken product because they can't move around so they can't burn it off.
"So these are things that can sometimes be visibly seen, but it's just I think people would be absolutely disgusted that this is, you know, a nation of animal lovers. And this is the chicken products that we're being fed. And we just don't know this is happening behind closed doors."
She says consumers are unaware, but farmers aren't to blame, but supermarkets:
"They are the ones deciding what this bottom line should be because farmers are victims in this too. They're setting that bottom line and they're pushing the price down."
Katie, based in Northamptonshire, says the system doesn't work for animals, consumers or farmers:
"We're not naive to the fact that farmers are under a significant amount of pressure, but this system doesn't work for them either. You know, they don't want to be going into the sheds everyday and pulling out dead, sick and injured birds because that's the reality. We've spoken to them and we know what they have to endure."
The Humane League UK says many retailers have seen success with growing and selling slower raised animals without any extra cost.
British Poultry Council
A spokesperson for the British Poultry Council disputes the legal basis for the Humane League contacting chicken farmers and also says the term Frankenchicken is unhelpful and misleading.
British Poultry Council Chief Executive Richard Griffiths said:
"There has been no legal ruling against the use of conventional breeds and nothing to suggest that British poultry meat production, as it stands, is unlawful. The Court of Appeal denied the Humane League’s appeal and made clear that welfare decisions sit within the remit of the competent authority - in this case, Defra. The Court recognised welfare as a complex issue influenced by genetics, husbandry, and environment. Good practice remains key, and that is something British poultry meat producers take very seriously.
British poultry producers operate to some of the highest welfare standards in the world, with over 90% of production assured under Red Tractor. The derogatory terms used by NGOs are misleading and undermines evidence-based progress in welfare and sustainable food production."