Slow-growing breeds: how to manage them efficiently?

Currently, in some regions, the poultry industry is pushed to switch broiler genetics to slower-growing breeds due to animal welfare concerns. Fast-growing broiler chickens, developed through selective breeding, reach a weight of more than 2 kilograms in just 35 days. Most of these faster-growing breeds have larger breast muscles and shorter legs. Therefore they have difficulties performing normal activities, consequently raising questions about animal welfare.

The European chicken commitment

These concerns are the main foundation for the European chicken commitment. Several brands committed to this, such as IKEA, Nestle, Accor hotels, etc. By 2026, poultry producers must meet the following requirements for 100% of the chicken supply chain, for food companies that committed to this approach:

1. Comply with all EU animal welfare laws and regulations, regardless of country of production;
2. Have a maximum stocking density of 30kg/m2 or less. Thinning if practiced limited to one per flock;
3. Adopt slow growing breeds;
4. Implement environmental standards including;

• At least 50 lux of light, including natural light
• Perch space
• Air quality
• No cages or multitier systems

5. Stunning: inert gas or multi-phase systems, or effective electrical stunning without live inversion;
6. Auditing via third party and annual public reporting on progress.

Commercial labels for consumers

Due to these commitments, we already see in several EU countries, different commercial labels to inform the consumer about the welfare standard of the chicken raised for the meat they buy. For example, the Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn uses the ‘Beter leven label’. All those labels have different requirements for raising slow-growing chicks. Some examples from different EU countries:

It is clear from the above examples that slower-growing birds need a different type of production cycle. Producers are faced with different challenges compared to conventional broiler production, such as:

• Slower growing birds require a different lighting program. The duration of the light period is longer, consequently, birds are more active and consume more feed during that period.
• Some producers provide access to winter gardens, however, there is turbulence at the entrances inducing wet litter, therefore birds are reluctant to stay in these places.
• Lower bird density results in fewer problems with wet litter (if, of course, health status and management are good).
• Some producers report a pressure of coccidiosis - especially E. tenella and E. acervulina compared to conventional broiler production.
• During fattening, slow-growing birds experience prolonged periods of darkness, where they do not consume feed inducing possible anti-peristaltic movements in the intestines, which leads to the mixing of bacteria from various parts of the intestine and imbalance of the microbiome inducing possible diarrhoea.
• Some producers report a more challenging start with high mortality rates.
• Outbreaks of Marek and Gumboro -viral diseases seem more prevalent. Still, the standard broiler vaccination program is applied to the slow-growing broilers. However, the fattening period is more extended, antibody titers start to decrease at 33-37 days under the protective level, making those birds more susceptible to those diseases. Hence the interest in immunomodulators among producers and veterinarians.

As the producer faces those challenges, he will come to you, as his veterinarian, for advice. Some examples of challenges they may ask you for help:

• Ensure a proper start for the chicks, without antibiotic therapy;
• Prevent coccidiosis;
• Develop an appropriate vaccination programme for birds and improvement of their general immune status;
• Prevent diarrhoea that occurs at the time of switching feed.

For over 15 years, Roman and his family have been running breeding farms in Poland. They started with one hen house and ended up with ten hen houses at the moment. In 2021, they decided to switch to breeding slow-growing birds. As they didn't know much about this type of production, this decision came with some difficulties like coccidiosis. That's why Roman contacted Kemin's Technical Service Manager, and they agreed on using CLOSTAT^®. 

Wondering what benefits this provides for his slow-growing chickens? Watch the full testimonial about his approach to poultry production:

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