Better chicken welfare - where has the industry come from? With Louise Cordina from Cordina Farms

Brian Daly interviews Cordina Farms CEO, Louise Cordina, to find out more about the meat chicken industry in Australia and what’s been done to improve chicken welfare. 

Chickens that are grown for meat production (also called broiler chickens) are genetically very different from layer hens (which are bred to produce eggs). Meat chickens have been selectively bred over many generations to grow and gain weight very rapidly, with birds ready for processing at 4-6 weeks old. 

The RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme standards for meat chickens stipulate specific conditions in which birds must be kept, and go above and beyond the current legislation. In 2018, 78% of the meat chickens grown in Australia met the RSPCA Approved farming scheme standards. Meaning that hundreds of millions of chickens lived better lives, from farms with a focus on animal welfare. 

Companies like Cordina Farms recognise the value in improving animal welfare, and having independent certification from a science based organisation. Their commitment to improving the lives of meat chickens has had great impact on chicken welfare, and should be applauded. 

Key points:

-          The history of the Australian meat chicken industry 

-          RSPCA Approved meat chicken standards 

-          How the meat chicken industry in Australia has changed to improve chicken welfare

Further links:

https://rspcaapproved.org.au/ 

https://kb.rspca.org.au/article-categories/meat-chickens/