Developments in welfare of parent stock and commercial broilers

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Genetics
• Sustainable Agriculture

Background:

• Poultry breeding is fundamental to the food chain, providing essential animal protein.
• Breeding solutions offer long-term, cumulative, and widespread benefits throughout the production chain.
• Poultry meat is vital for global food security and meeting nutritional needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a Code of Good Practice for Sustainable Breeding (Code-EFABAR®) in the poultry sector.
• To describe five key commitments for sustainable poultry breeding: Health, Food Safety and Security; Diversity; Balanced Breeding; Management and Stockmanship; and Transparency, Communication, and Engagement.
• To emphasize the importance of understanding future directions and stakeholder collaboration for advancing poultry breeding.

Main Methods:

• Review of current practices and future directions in meat poultry breeding.
• Description of the Code-EFABAR® and its five commitments.
• Emphasis on stakeholder dialogue and cooperation for anticipating and implementing changes.

Main Results:

• The Code-EFABAR® provides a framework for sustainable poultry breeding.
• The five commitments address critical aspects from health and safety to transparency.
• Balanced selection, informed by future outlooks and stakeholder input, drives improvements.

Conclusions:

• Sustainable poultry breeding is essential for future food security.
• Adherence to the Code-EFABAR® and its commitments promotes better welfare, productivity, and sustainability.
• Continuous dialogue and collaboration with stakeholders are crucial for adapting and advancing poultry breeding practices.