About 846 million meat chickens (broilers) are reared each year in the UK accounting for approximately one-third of total meat production.
Over the last five years the total number of broilers reared in the UK decreased by 15.2 million birds due to a reduction in the number of birds being produced to the chicken industry’s own standards (ACP). ACP production represented 79.4 per cent of the total market in 2009 compared to 96.1 per cent in 2005.
Consequently, the number of birds reared to higher standards than ACP rose dramatically increasing the number of birds produced by 141.2 million (424 per cent) and occupying a total market share of 21.6 per cent in 2009 compared to 3.8 per cent in 2005. Chickens reared to RSPCA standards increased by 164.3 per cent and free range and organic production increased by 37.3 per cent and 114.8 per cent respectively.
The RSPCA would like to see all meat chickens reared to welfare standards that are at least equivalent to those of the RSPCA’s welfare standards for chickens which set requirements concerning the genetic growth rate of birds as well as for their environment.
For more information, read the 'chicken' indicator.
