Scientific report updating the EFSA opinions on the welfare of broilers and broiler breeders

Abstract

The EFSA Animal Health and Welfare panel is requested to develop several scientific opinions concerning animal based measures to assess the welfare of livestock animals. The main background documents for these mandates are the EFSA Scientific Opinions on the welfare of livestock and the Welfare Quality® assessment protocols. EFSA has issued 3 scientific opinions on different aspects related to the welfare of broilers. These were i) a scientific opinion on the welfare of chickens kept for meat production (broilers), developed in 2000 by the former Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare (SCAHAW), and two EFSA scientific opinions, issued in 2010: ii) The influence of genetic parameters on the welfare and the resistance to stress of commercial broilers and iii) Welfare aspects of the management and housing of the grand-parent and parent stocks raised and kept for breeding purposes. The terms of reference (ToRs) of the Commission mandates on animal based measures to assess the welfare of livestock animals suggest that such measures could be used to check whether the recommendations listed in the EFSA scientific opinions have been fulfilled or not. It is therefore important that conclusions and recommendations of the EFSA scientific opinions are up to date.