1-20 of 1,857 results for subject:Poultry
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets and timescales her Department plans to use to assess progress towards a voluntary move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets and timescales her Department plans to use to assess progress towards a voluntary move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
As stated in the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government supports voluntary efforts to move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds. Whilst no specific timescale has been set, the Government aims to progress the commitments in the Strategy by 2030.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in what way the Animal Welfare Committee’s advice on breeding will inform the assessment of targets and timescales on a voluntary move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in what way the Animal Welfare Committee’s advice on breeding will inform the assessment of targets and timescales on a voluntary move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
The Government will draw upon the wide-ranging advice within the Animal Welfare Committee’s recent report on livestock breeding in all upcoming work. The report did not however provide an in-depth assessment of the welfare status of fast-growing breeds of meat chickens.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will consider introducing mandatory restrictions if voluntary measures to move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds do not deliver adequate improvements in animal welfare.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will consider introducing mandatory restrictions if voluntary measures to move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds do not deliver adequate improvements in animal welfare.
The Government will continue supporting voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds and is not currently considering a ban on these breeds.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the forthcoming poultry growth strategy will support a transition away from intensive animal agriculture towards prioritising animal welfare, environmental and public health.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the forthcoming poultry growth strategy will support a transition away from intensive animal agriculture towards prioritising animal welfare, environmental and public health.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of differences in animal welfare and meat quality between UK-grown chickens and imported chicken meat sold in the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of differences in animal welfare and meat quality between UK-grown chickens and imported chicken meat sold in the UK.
As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, the government is considering how we can support voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds. The Department has not made such assessments of comparison between UK-grown chickens and chickens reared abroad.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of UK-grown chickens in comparison with those farmed in other countries, particularly with regards to 1) animal welfare, 2) animal lifespan and premature mortality, and 3) food quality implications for humans on...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of UK-grown chickens in comparison with those farmed in other countries, particularly with regards to 1) animal welfare, 2) animal lifespan and premature mortality, and 3) food quality implications for humans on...
As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, the government is considering how we can support voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds. The Department has not made such assessments of comparison between UK-grown chickens and chickens reared abroad.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure the poultry growth plan (a) takes into account the pollution in water reduction proposals and (b) aims to improve chicken welfare.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure the poultry growth plan (a) takes into account the pollution in water reduction proposals and (b) aims to improve chicken welfare.
The Poultry Sector Growth Plan is being developed by industry, supported by the Government, to identify opportunities for the sector to improve its productivity and profitability. There is clear demand for high quality, domestically produced chicken meat and eggs. The plan will identify ways that enable our domestic poultry sector to meet this challenge sustainably and in line with key government policies such as the Animal Welfare Strategy, Farming Roadmap and Environmental Improvement Plan 2025. In doing so we will be strengthening our national food security whilst balancing broader environmental, animal welfare and food security objectives.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data the Department holds on mortality, lameness and culling rates in conventional broiler flocks in England in each of the last five years; and what steps the Department is taking to reduce the routine prophylactic use of...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data the Department holds on mortality, lameness and culling rates in conventional broiler flocks in England in each of the last five years; and what steps the Department is taking to reduce the routine prophylactic use of...
The Government does not hold such data on lameness and culling rates in conventional broiler flocks in England. The government receives data from the Food Standards Agency on Cumulative Daily Mortality Rates (CDMR) for broiler chickens.
The Average Yearly CDMR was 3.57% in 2020, 3.65% in 2021, 3.76% in 2022, 3.53% in 2023, 3.39% in 2024, 3.38% in 2025. The figure for 2023 represents the period of 1 April to 31 December, this is the only Average Yearly CDMR data that the government holds for that year.
The Government is committed to reducing unnecessary use of antibiotics in animals while safeguarding animal welfare. The Veterinary Medicines Regulations prohibit the routine use of antibiotics to compensate for inadequate husbandry, management or biosecurity, and restrict prophylactic antibiotic use to exceptional circumstances only, under veterinary oversight and subject to additional legal requirements. We continue to work closely with the poultry sector to promote high standards of biosecurity, disease prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is her timeline for ending the culling of male chicks in the egg industry.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is her timeline for ending the culling of male chicks in the egg industry.
The Government wishes to encourage the egg industry to end the practice of killing day-old chicks but no timeline for the transition has been established.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the report Sustainable Alternatives to Culled Chicks as Captive Raptor and Reptile Feed published by the Vegetarian Society UK on 4 June 2026.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the report Sustainable Alternatives to Culled Chicks as Captive Raptor and Reptile Feed published by the Vegetarian Society UK on 4 June 2026.
This Government will consider the Vegetarian Society UK’s report on alternative feed sources for raptors and reptiles as part of its work to work towards seeing an end the practice of culling male laying hen chicks.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of large intensive chicken farms on human health, environmental standards, and animal welfare.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of large intensive chicken farms on human health, environmental standards, and animal welfare.
The Environment Agency assesses the environmental risk through the assessment of environmental permits to protect habitats from air pollution, and compliance with regulations to protect land and water. Measures are checked through regular compliance inspections.
There are a number of different farming systems in use in England and farms of all sizes have a role to play in promoting sustainable agriculture. All farms, regardless of size and type of production system, must comply with comprehensive legislation aimed at protecting animal health and welfare. The Government remains firmly committed to improving animal welfare and wants to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. Ministers recently met with several representatives of various farming sectors to discuss the Animal Welfare Strategy. This outlines the Government’s plans to improve farm animal welfare including through transitioning away from intensive confinement systems such as cages or crates.
Ammonia from poultry farms contributes to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution concentrations across the country. The precise contribution is difficult to assess and will vary according to the prevailing weather conditions and other sources of PM2.5. Long term exposure to fine particulate matter is associated with a number of serious health conditions. Intensive poultry farms with a capacity of 40,000 poultry places or more require a permit under the Environmental Permitting Regulations, to control their emissions into the environment.
Where animal welfare is impacted by farming practices, this can lead to increased health risks to humans through either the food chain, direct animal contact or through environmental contamination. For gastrointestinal disease this can occur through increased shedding of human pathogens where animals are at heightened stress, such as Salmonella spp and Campylobacter spp. Increased shedding of bacteria can also increase the risk antimicrobial resistance can spread.
Any individual exposed to positive detections of HPAI in poultry will be managed according to UKHSA’s public health guidance. Guidance for the management of people exposed to birds or other animals infected with influenza A(H5) - GOV.UK (copy attached).
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to enforce the commitment made in the Animal welfare strategy for England, published on 22 December 2025, to end the culling of male chicks in the egg industry.
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to enforce the commitment made in the Animal welfare strategy for England, published on 22 December 2025, to end the culling of male chicks in the egg industry.
As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, this Government would like to see an end to the practice of culling male chicks. The Government is monitoring the rapid progress currently being made with in-ovo sexing and has funded research into the use of dual breed chickens that remove the need to kill male chicks.
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the UK egg industry about implementing a trial of in-ovo sexing technology to prevent the culling of male chicks; and when they anticipate such a trial to take place.
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the UK egg industry about implementing a trial of in-ovo sexing technology to prevent the culling of male chicks; and when they anticipate such a trial to take place.
A commercial in-ovo sexing system was trialed at a UK hatchery last year to help the egg industry understand the logistics of in-ovo sexing. This Government will engage with the egg industry and technology companies on this issue.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to end the use of fast-growing broiler chicken breeds in UK poultry production.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to end the use of fast-growing broiler chicken breeds in UK poultry production.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 March 2026 to the hon. Member for Stockport, PQ UIN 118907.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of intensive factory farming of chickens, and whether there are plans to further regulate this sector with regards to animal welfare.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of intensive factory farming of chickens, and whether there are plans to further regulate this sector with regards to animal welfare.
All farms, regardless of size and type of production system, must comply with legislation on animal health and welfare. The Government remains firmly committed to improving animal welfare and wants to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The Animal Welfare Strategy outlines government’s plans to improve farm animal welfare including through transitioning away from intensive confinement systems such as cages and encourage efforts to move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Court of Appeal ruling in December 2024 on the welfare of fast-growing chickens.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Court of Appeal ruling in December 2024 on the welfare of fast-growing chickens.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 14 July 2026 to the hon. Member for North Devon, PQ UIN 17121.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of compliance with animal welfare standards in commercial poultry production.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of compliance with animal welfare standards in commercial poultry production.
The Government remains firmly committed to maintaining high animal welfare standards. Compliance with animal welfare standards is monitored by Defra’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) who conduct inspections to check that animal welfare standards are being met. Further details of results of inspections and trigger report analysis is published in the MANCP report which details findings from previous years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the risk of increased imports of lower-welfare eggs following domestic reforms to housing systems for laying hens.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the risk of increased imports of lower-welfare eggs following domestic reforms to housing systems for laying hens.
The Government has carried out an assessment and, as part of the recent consultation on laying hen cage reform, sought views on that assessment. The consultation also sought additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports. We are now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
This Government will always consider whether overseas goods benefit from an unfair advantage and any impact on UK producers. Where necessary, the Government will use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal, including permanent quotas, exclusions and safeguards.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether Government plans to introduce measures to prevent the import of a) eggs, b) liquid eggs and c) powdered eggs produced in systems that are banned in the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether Government plans to introduce measures to prevent the import of a) eggs, b) liquid eggs and c) powdered eggs produced in systems that are banned in the UK.
The Government has carried out an assessment and, as part of the recent consultation on laying hen cage reform, sought views on that assessment. The consultation also sought additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports. We are now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
This Government will always consider whether overseas goods benefit from an unfair advantage and any impact on UK producers. Where necessary, the Government will use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal, including permanent quotas, exclusions and safeguards.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps will be taken to ensure that imports of eggs, liquid eggs and powdered eggs meet UK animal welfare standards, in the context of any phase-out of caged systems domestically.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps will be taken to ensure that imports of eggs, liquid eggs and powdered eggs meet UK animal welfare standards, in the context of any phase-out of caged systems domestically.
The Government has carried out an assessment and, as part of the recent consultation on laying hen cage reform, sought views on that assessment. The consultation also sought additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports. We are now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
This Government will always consider whether overseas goods benefit from an unfair advantage and any impact on UK producers. Where necessary, the Government will use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal, including permanent quotas, exclusions and safeguards.