National Chicken Council announces new resources on broiler welfare

In an effort to recognize and continue to respond to questions about chicken production, the National Chicken Council today through its Chicken Check In initiative announced several new resources pertaining to broiler chicken welfare and chicken products.

The stunning of chickens – rendering the birds unconscious and insensible to pain – has been the subject of considerable research and discussion. There is one primary method of stunning broilers prior to slaughter in the U.S. and that is "electrical stunning." There are also a limited number of facilities in the U.S. that utilize a system knows as "controlled atmosphere stunning." Dr. Karen Christensen, extension poultry specialist/ associate professor at the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, answers the most frequently asked questions and pros and cons of each system in a new FAQ posted on Chicken Check In.

Second, a new video has been posted to Chicken Check In's "Day in the Life" video series that brings viewers inside a typical chicken house to learn what a day in the life of a broiler chicken is like. This bite-sized video, "How Chickens Are Actually Raised. For Real," covers the first day chicks arrive to the farm to when they are transported to processing.

Finally, a survey by the National Chicken Council found that nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of consumers said chicken labels and packaging were confusing. To clear up some common chicken labeling misperceptions, a new blog post on the Chicken Check In blog, "The Cluck," breaks down five confusing labels on chicken products and what they actually mean.

"The mission of Chicken Check In is to provide those who have questions with the level of information they want regarding the care and safety of the chicken they eat, and to feel confident in eating it," noted Tom Super, National Chicken Council senior vice president of communications. "We're committed to continuing to work to build consumer trust by inviting Americans to ask the questions they have now and in the future as they learn more about chicken production."

These resources build on those already hosted on www.ChickenCheck.In, on subjects such as: "slow growing" chickens; broiler size and growth rates; lighting, enrichments, stocking density and stunning issues; the breeding process; and contract poultry farming.

Source: NCC

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

On-Demand Join us for an exclusive look into the future of the protein industry with The National Provisioner’s 2024 State of the Industry webinar, a key feature of our October eMagazine. Dive deep into transformative insights as consumer research experts from Circana take the stage.

IPPE 2025

The International Production & Processing Expo is the world's largest annual poultry and egg, meat, and animal food industry event of its kind. A wide range of domestic and international decision-makers attend this annual event to find solutions for their business, network with industry colleagues, and learn about the latest technological developments and issues facing the industry.

The 2025 IPPE already has 1,200+ exhibitors that will occupy more than 583,000+ square feet of exhibit space. The 2025 IPPE will offer timely and important information and an efficient way for producers and processors to find solutions to enhance their operations.

We look forward to being with you again at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Mark your calendar to join us Jan. 28 - 30, 2025. You will not want to miss this "must-attend" event for our industries!