Julia Tomkins Wisner
UK courts say it’s criminal to farm harmful breeds. This is a historic victory for animals.
In a groundbreaking decision at the end of last year, the UK Court of Appeals delivered a verdict that could revolutionize animal farming practices across the nation.
In a David versus Goliath battle spanning four years, animal advocates have achieved a historic victory. On December 13, 2024, the UK Court of Appeals delivered a groundbreaking interpretation of animal welfare law that confirms that animals should not be farmed if it means they will suffer because of how they have been bred. The court’s interpretation of animal welfare law has set a powerful precedent that could spell the end for the controversial practice of farming fast-growing chicken breeds, commonly known as ‘Frankenchickens’: birds selectively bred to grow unnaturally fast for maximum profit.
The Legal Battle and Its Implications
The case, brought forward by The Humane League UK (THL UK), challenged the government over the widespread use of fast-growing chicken breeds in the UK. THL UK argued the government had a policy which permitted the farming of these fast-growing breeds of chicken. These chickens, which make up over 90% of the UK’s poultry meat production, have been bred to grow at an unnaturally rapid rate, leading to severe health issues and suffering.
While technically dismissing the case on procedural grounds, the court’s interpretation of Paragraph 29 of Schedule 1 to the Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations 2007 was crystal clear: keeping animals that suffer due to their genetics is unlawful, regardless of any commercial benefits. As Lord Justice Males stated, the law “unequivocally prioritises animal health and welfare over commercial benefit.” The impact of this judgment on chickens could be seismic.
The Scale of the Problem
The numbers tell a devastating story. Each year, over 1.1 billion chickens are slaughtered for meat in the UK, with 90% being these fast-growing breeds. Weekly, approximately 1.5 million birds die before slaughter, often suffering from organ failure, burns, and lameness—all consequences of their selective breeding. These birds require up to nine times more antibiotics than their more naturally growing counterparts, highlighting the unsustainability of this practice. According to poultry expert Liam Hodgson, who serves as The Humane League UK’s Sr. Global Technical Manager of Broilers, Frankenchickens can face a number of detrimental issues, “including lameness, hip dislocations, heart attacks and burns from laying in their own urine and faeces.”
To recap, here are those startling statistics:
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Over 1.1 billion chickens are slaughtered for meat annually in the UK
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90% of these are fast-growing breeds
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Approximately 1.5 million birds die before slaughter every week
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These breeds require up to 9 times more antibiotics than slower-growing alternatives
What This Means for the Future
This landmark UK ruling opens the door to potential criminal prosecutions against farmers who continue to use fast-growing breeds. Animal protection organizations, including The Humane League UK, are looking to explore legal actions against producers who persist with these practices, signaling a new era of accountability in farming.
The verdict necessitates a fundamental shift in farming practices across the UK. Farmers will need to reassess their breeding choices and potentially transition to slower-growing, more resilient chicken breeds. This transition, while challenging in the short term, would lead to more sustainable and ethical farming practices.
The implications of this ruling extend far beyond chicken farming. The court’s interpretation could affect all forms of livestock farming where animals have been genetically selected for increased productivity at the expense of their welfare. This could trigger a broader revolution in how we approach animal agriculture across all sectors.
Furthermore, this decision increases pressure on major retailers to commit to the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC). With the legal landscape shifting towards stricter welfare standards, companies that haven’t yet adopted better practices may find themselves compelled to change, both by legal necessity and consumer demand.
Industry Response and Progress
Some major companies have already taken steps toward better practices. Nando’s, Greggs, Marks and Spencer, and Waitrose are among 380+ companies that have adopted the Better Chicken Commitment. However, several major supermarkets, including Co-op and Lidl, continue to rely on fast-growing breeds.
The Path Forward
The government now faces pressure to provide clear guidance to farmers about compliance with this interpretation of the law. According to Sean Gifford, Managing Director of The Humane League UK: “By hiding behind their lawyers and refusing to interpret the law correctly, the government has failed animals and failed British farmers who are legally obligated to put animal welfare first. We call on Defra to now work with farmers to end the use of Frankenchickens. If the government does not seize this opportunity to uplift the lives of hundreds of millions of animals, then charities like ours could be forced to bring private criminal prosecutions against farmers who are breaking the law by continuing to use fast-growing breeds of chickens.”
This verdict represents a potential turning point in animal welfare history. The doors opened by this ruling could fundamentally transform how we approach animal farming in the UK, prioritizing compassion over profit.
