Study finds moderate growth restriction could improve broiler welfare

In a recent study funded by USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation, researchers at the University of Georgia have shed new light on the relationship between growth rates and animal welfare in broiler chickens. Contrary to common recommendations, their findings suggest that moderate growth restriction could actually enhance the welfare outcomes of these birds.

Led by Dr. Prafulla Regmi, assistant professor at the University of Georgia’s Department of Poultry Science, the research project delved into the longitudinal assessment of skeletal and cardiac structures in broilers reared under both slow and fast growth rate regimens. Their goal was to uncover physical and physiological markers associated with welfare issues in broiler chickens raised at different rates of growth.

The study’s results challenge the notion that slower growth rates always equate to better welfare outcomes. While growth restriction did show potential for improving the welfare of broilers, the research indicates that the extent of restriction may not need to be as severe as previously suggested by some third-party organizations. Notably, the findings revealed that reducing growth rates did not necessarily lead to an increase in the breaking strength of the birds’ bones.