Abstract
The intensification of farm animal welfare debate has led to an increasing number of certification schemes covering this issue; however, there are concerns about the contribution of these schemes in improving welfare. The aims of this study were to identify certification schemes for broiler chicken welfare at farm level in Brazil, to investigate the extent of nutritional, environmental, health and behavioral indicators within the schemes and to analyze the content of scheme and the capacity to promote continuous improvement on certified farms. GLOBALG.A.P.® and Certified Humane® were the only schemes observed, corresponding to 2.1 % of broiler chicken farms in Brazil. Environmental and health indicators were in greater number, and the requirements classified as behavioral indicator were commonly related to the resolution of low levels of animal welfare. Both schemes were in accordance with the European Food Safety Authority recommendations for farmer training, birds and buildings inspection, temperature control, air and litter quality, stocking density and lighting. The selection of breeds and the use of animal-based indicators needs to be improved, as well the inclusion animal welfare objectives and management review as part of continuous improvement. Welfare certification is a potential market to be developed in Brazil. Overall, assessed schemes may potentially enhance animal welfare at farm level by including new concepts and practices. It is desirable to increase the number of certified farms in Brazil and that certification schemes be critically analyzed on a regular basis regarding their content to meet new demands and to include updates from scientific research.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ABPA. (2014). Relatorio anual 2014. Relatorio Anual. http://www.ubabef.com.br/files/publicacoes/8ca705e70f0cb110ae3aed67d29c8842.pdf. Accessed October 29, 2014
AFS. (2012). Red tractor assurance annual review. Assured food standard. http://www.redtractor.org.uk/contentfiles/RedTractor-522.pdf. Accessed May 10, 2015
AFS. (2014). Red tractor assurance. Red tractor assurance safe haven and post-farm schemes. http://assurance.redtractor.org.uk/rtassurance/schemes/aboutschemes/content.eb. Accessed 26 November 2014
Amos, N., & Sullivan, R. (2014). The 2013 Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare. Investor Briefing. http://www.bbfaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Briefing-No12-Business-Benchmark-2013.pdf. Accessed June 01, 2015
Areté Research & Consulting in Economics. (2010). Inventory of certification schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs marketed in the EU Member States. Brussels. http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/certification/inventory/inventory-data-aggregations_en.pdf. Accessed June 01, 2015
Assiouras, I., Ozgen, O., & Skourtis, G. (2013). The impact of corporate social responsibility in food industry in product-harm crises. British Food Journal, 115(1), 108–123.
AssureWel. (2014). AssureWel—Advancing Animal Welfare Assurance. Broilers. http://www.assurewel.org/broilers. Accessed September 29, 2014
Berg, C. (2004). Pododermatitis and hock burn in broiler chickens. In C. A. Weeks & A. Butterworth (Eds.), Measuring and auditing broiler welfare (1st ed., pp. 37–49). London: CABI Publishing.
Bessei, W. (2006). Welfare of broilers: A review. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 62(03), 455–466.
Blandford, D. (2013). Humane treatment of farm animals. In W. J. Armbruster & R. D. Knutson (Eds.), US programs affecting food and agricultural marketing (1st ed., pp. 471–504). Texas: Springer.
Bock, B. B., & van Leeuwen, F. (2005). Animal welfare schemes. In J. Roex & M. Miele (Eds.), Welfare quality reports no. 1: Farm animal welfare concerns—Consumers, retailers and producers (1st ed., pp. 125–142). Cardiff: Welfare Quality Consortium.
Boissy, A., Manteuffel, G., Jensen, M. B., Moe, R. O., Spruijt, B., Keeling, L. J., et al. (2007). Assessment of positive emotions in animals to improve their welfare. Physiology & Behavior, 92(3), 375–397.
Bonamigo, A., Bonamigo, C. B. S. S., & Molento, C. F. M. (2012). Atribuições da carne de frango relevantes ao consumidor: foco no bem-estar animal. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, 41(4), 1044–1050.
Caplen, G., Hothersall, B., Murrell, J. C., Nicol, C. J., Waterman-Pearson, A. E., Weeks, C. A., & Colborne, G. R. (2012). Kinematic analysis quantifies gait abnormalities associated with lameness in broiler chickens and identifies evolutionary gait differences. PLoS ONE, 7(7), e40800.
Certified Humane®. (2009). Human Farm Animal Care—Animal care standards (chickens). (C. Humane, Ed.) (February 2.). Herndon: Humane Farm Animal Care.
Certified Humane®. (2014). Humane Farm Animal Care—program/policy manual. (Certified Humane®, Ed.) (April 11). Herndon: Humane Farm Animal Care.
CIWF. (2012). Farm Assurance Schemes and Animal Welfare: How the standards compare. Edinburgh: Compassion in World Farming.
Croney, C. C., & Millman, S. T. (2007). Board-invited review: The ethical and behavioral bases for farm animal welfare legislation. Journal of Animal Science, 85(2), 556–565.
Dawkins, M. S. (2008). The science of animal suffering. Ethology, 114(10), 937–945.
Dawkins, M. S. (2012). Commercial scale research and assessment of poultry welfare. British Poultry Science, 53(1), 1–6.
Dawkins, M. S., Donnely, A. E., & Jones, T. A. (2004). Chicken welfare is influenced more by housing conditions than by stocking density. Nature, 427, 342–343.
De Jonge, J., & van Trijp, H. C. M. (2012). Meeting Heterogeneity in Consumer Demand for Animal Welfare: A reflection on existing knowledge and implications for the meat sector. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 26(3), 629–661.
DEFRA. (2009). Code of recommendations for the welfare of livestock: Meat chickens and breeding chickens. London: Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs.
DEFRA. (2011). Attitudes and behavious around sustainabe food purchasing. London. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/137733/defra-stats-foodfarm-food-attitudes-report-110406-mainreport.pdf. Accessed May 01, 2015.
EFSA. (2010). Scientific Opinion on the influence of genetic parameters on the welfare and the resistance to stress of commercial broilers. EFSA Journal, 8(7), 1–82.
EFSA. (2012a). Scientific report updating the EFSA opinions on the welfare of broilers and broiler breeders. Brussels: EFSA.
EFSA. (2012b). Scientific opinion on the use of animal-based measures to assess welfare of broilers. European Food Safety Authority Journal, 10(7), 2774.
Eurobarometer. (2007). Attitudes os EU citizens towards animal welfare. Brussels. http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_270_en.pdf. Accessed May 01, 2015
European Commission. (2007). 43/2007/EC Laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production. Pub. L. No. 2007/43/EC. Brussels, Belgium.
European Commission. (2012). Communication from the Commission to the European parliament, the council and the European economic and social committee on the European Union strategy for the protection and animal welfare 2012–2015. Brussels. http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/actionplan/docs/aw_strategy_19012012_en.pdf. Accessed 12 May 2015.
FAWC. (2001). Interim report on the animal welfare implications of farm assurance schemes. London. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/325201/FAWC_report_on_the_welfare_implications_of_farm_assurance_schemes.pdf. Accessed April 10, 2015
FAWC. (2005). Report on the Implications of Farm Assurance Schemes. London: FAWC.
FAWC. (2009). Farm animal welfare in Great Britain: Past, present and future. London. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/319292/Farm_Animal_Welfare_in_Great_Britain_-_Past__Present_and_Future.pdf. Accessed June 10, 2015.
FAWC. (2013). Review os the implications for animal welfare of farm assurance schemes. London: FAWC.
FAWF. (2011). Labelling food from farm animals—method of Production Labels for the European Union. Godalming: Farm Animal Welfare Forum. http://www.fawf.org.uk/documents/FAWF_Labelling_Food_FINAL.pdf. Accessed June 09, 2015.
France. (2013). Ministère de L’Agriculture, de L’Agroalimentaire et de La Forêt. Aviculture. http://www.agreste.agriculture.gouv.fr/conjoncture/aviculture/?debut_articles_contenu_rubrique=8#pagination_articles_contenu_rubrique. Accessed August 26, 2014
Fraser, D. (2008). Selecting and combining criteria of animal welfare. In J. K. Kirkwood & R. C. Hubrecht (Eds.), Understanding animal welfare (1st ed., pp. 241–259). Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
Garner, J. P., Falcone, C., Wakenell, P., Martin, M., & Mench, J. A. (2002). Reliability and validity of a modified gait scoring system and its use in assessing tibial dyschondroplasia in broilers. British Poultry Science, 43(3), 355–363.
Gentle, M. J. (2011). Pain issues in poultry. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 135(3), 252–258.
GLOBALG.A.P.®. (2013a). Control points and compliance criteria: integrated farm assurance—poultry. (GLOBALG.A.P.®, Ed.) (4.0–2nd ed.). Cologne: GLOBALGAP. http://www.globalgap.org/export/sites/default/.content/.galleries/documents/130315_gg_ifa_cpcc_af_lb_py_v4_0-2_en.pdf
GLOBALG.A.P.®. (2013b). Animal welfare add-on module for poultry/broiler chicken. (FoodPLUS, Ed.) (1st ed.). Cologne: GLOBALGAP. http://www.globalgap.org/export/sites/default/.content/.galleries/documents/130214_gg_add-on_aw_py_cl_v1_0_protected_en.pdf
GLOBALG.A.P.®. (2013c). GLOBALG.A.P. general regulation part I—general rules. (GLOBALG.A.P.®, Ed.) (4.0–2_MAR2 ed.). Cologne: FoodPLUS GmbH. http://www.globalgap.org/export/sites/default/.content/.galleries/documents/130315_gg_gr_part_i_v4_0-2_en.pdf
GLOBALG.A.P.®. (2013d). GLOBALG.A.P. general regulations part II—Rules for option 2 and option 1 multisites with QMS. (GLOBALG.A.P.®, Ed.) (4.0–2_mar2 ed.). Cologne: FoodPLUS GmbH. http://www.globalgap.org/export/sites/default/.content/.galleries/documents/130315_gg_gr_part_ii_v4_0-2_en.pdf
Grandin, T. (2010). Auditing animal welfare at slaughter plants. Meat Science, 86(1), 56–65.
Grandin, T. (2013). Recommended animal handling guidelines and audit guide: A systematic approach to animal welfare (American Meat Institute Animal Welfare Committee, Ed.) (July 2013). Washington: American Meat Institute Foundation. http://certifiedhumane.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/2013.AMI_.Guidelines.pdf
Grandin, T. (2014). Animal welfare and society concerns finding the missing link. Meat Science, 98(3), 461–469.
Hatanaka, M., Bain, C., & Busch, L. (2005). Third-party certification in the global agrifood system. Food Policy, 30(3), 354–369.
IBGE. (2012). Censo Agropecuário 2006—Segunda Apuração. Rio de Janeiro. http://ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/economia/agropecuaria/censoagro/2006_segunda_apuracao/default.shtm. Accessed August 8, 2015.
Ingenbleek, P., Immink, V. M., Spoolder, H. A. M., Bokma, M. H., & Keeling, L. J. (2012). EU animal welfare policy: Developing a comprehensive policy framework. Food Policy, 37(6), 690–699.
ISO. (2000). ISO 9000: Quality management systems—fundamentals and vocabulary. Geneva: ISO.
ISO. (2008). ISO 9001:2008. Sistemas de gestão da qualidade. Geneva: ISO.
ITAVI. (2012). La compétitivité agricole du Mercosur - le cas des filières d’élevage brésiliennes. France: Institut Technique de L’Aviculture.
Kestin, S. C., Knowles, T. G., Tinch, A. E., & Gregory, N. G. (1992). Prevalence of leg weakness in broiler chickens and its relationship with genotype. Veterinary Record, 131(9), 190–194.
Knowles, T. G., Kestin, S. C., Haslam, S. M., Brown, S. N., Green, L. E., Butterworth, A., et al. (2008). Leg disorders in broiler chickens: Prevalence, risk factors and prevention. PLoS ONE, 3(2), e1545.
Label Rouge. (2013). Key figures of the sector. Paris. http://www.volaillelabelrouge.com/fr/chiffres-cles-volailles. Accessed June 10, 2015.
Lundmark, F., Berg, C., Schmid, O., Behdadi, D., & Röcklinsberg, H. (2014). Intentions and values in animal welfare legislation and standards. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 27(4), 29.
Maciel, C. (2015). Farm animal welfare governance on the rise: a case study of Brazil Public morals in private hands? A study into the envolving path of farm animal welfare governance. Wageningen: Wageningen University.
Main, D. C. J., Mullan, S., Atkinson, C., Cooper, M., Wrathall, J. H. M., & Blokhuis, H. J. (2014). Best practice framework for animal welfare certification schemes. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 37(2), 127–136.
McCulloch, S. P. (2012). A critique of FAWC’s five freedoms as a framework for the analysis of animal welfare. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 26(5), 959–975.
Mench, J. A. (2008). Farm animal welfare in the U.S.A.: Farming practices, research, education, regulation, and assurance programs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 113(4), 298–312.
NCC. (2010). Animal welfare guidelines and audit checklist for broilers. Washington: NCC.
OIE. (2013). Animal welfare and broiler chicken production systems. In OIE (Ed.), Terrestrial animal health code (22nd ed., p. 8). Paris: OIE. http://www.oie.int/index.php?id=169&L=0&htmfile=chapitre_aw_broiler_chicken.htm
Robins, A., & Phillips, C. J. C. (2011). International approaches to the welfare of meat chickens. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 67(2), 351.
RSPCA. (2012). Freedom food impact report 2012. Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. London. http://www.freedomfood.co.uk/media/50805/ImpactReport_2012.pdf. Accessed May 22, 2015.
RSPCA. (2013). RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme—giving farm animals a better quality of life. Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Australia. http://www.rspca.org.au/sites/default/files/website/what-we-do/working-with-farming-industry/2014_Impact_Report_web.pdf. Accessed May 22, 2015.
Rushen, J., Butterworth, A., & Swanson, J. C. (2011). Farm animal welfare assurance: Science and application. Journal of Animal Science, 89(4), 1219–1228.
SCAHAW. (2000). The welfare of chickens kept for meat production (broilers). Brussels: Report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare.
Schröder, M. J. A., & Mceachern, M. G. (2005). Fast foods and ethical consumer value: A focus on McDonald’s and KFC. British Food Journal, 107, 212–224.
Souza, A. P. O., Sans, E. C. O., Müller, B. R., & Molento, C. F. M. (2015). Broiler chicken welfare assessment in GLOBALGAP certified and non-certified farms in Brazil. Animal Welfare, 24(1), 45–54.
Spoolder, H., Bokma, M., Harvey, D., Keeling, L., Majewsky, E., de Roest, K., & Schmid, O. (2011). EconWelfare findings, conclusions and recommendations concerning effective policy instruments in the route towards higher animal welfare in the EU. Lelystad, The Netherlands. http://www.econwelfare.eu/publications/EconWelfareD0.5_Findings_conclusions_and_recommendations.pdf. Accessed May 22, 2015.
Sprenger, M., Vangestel, C., & Tuyttens, F. A. M. (2009). Measuring thirst in broiler chickens. Animal Welfare, 18(4), 553–560.
Swanson, J. C. (2008). The ethical aspects of regulating production. Poultry Science, 87(2), 373–379.
Tuyttens, F. A. M., Federici, J. F., Vanderhasselt, R. F., Goethals, K., Duchateau, L., Sans, E. C. O., et al. (2015). Assessment of welfare of Brazilian and Belgian broiler flocks using the Welfare Quality protocol. Poultry Science, 94, 1758–1766.
UBA. (2012). The integrated system, a benchmark. Brazilian Poultry Magazine, 1, 7–9.
UBABEF. (2008a). Protocolo de bem-estar para frangos e perus. (Z. S. D’Avila & A. A. Mendes, Eds.) (1st ed.). São Paulo: União Brasileira para Avicultura. http://www.ubabef.com.br/files/publicacoes/641b2593d2fd403c0b420a3525c0ad14.pdf. Accessed May 22, 2015.
UBABEF. (2008b). Protocolo de Boas Práticas de Produção de Frango. (A. A. Mendes & Z. S. D’Avila, Eds.). São Paulo: União Brasileira para Avicultura. http://www.ubabef.com.br/files/publicacoes/c0b265b96f89355016b3882d5976fc49.pdf. Accessed May 22, 2015.
USDA. (2014). Animal welfare audits and certification programs. Certification Programs. United States Department of Agriculture. http://awic.nal.usda.gov/farm-animals/animal-welfare-audits-and-certification-programs/animal-welfare-audits-and-2. Accessed May 22, 2015.
Van Horne, P. L. M., & Bondt, N. (2013). Competitiveness of the EU poultry meat sector. Wageningen: Wageningen UR.
Vanderhasselt, R. F., Goethals, K., Buijs, S., Federici, J. F., Sans, E. C. O., Molento, C. F. M., et al. (2014). Performance of an animal-based test of thirst in commercial broiler chicken farms. Poultry Science, 93(6), 1327–1336.
Veissier, I., Butterworth, A., Bock, B., & Roe, E. (2008). European approaches to ensure good animal welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 113(4), 279–297.
Webster, A. J. F. (2009). The Virtuous Bicycle: A delivery vehicle for improved farm animal welfare. Animal Welfare, 18, 141–147.
Webster, J. (2013). International standards for farm animal welfare: Science and values. The Veterinary Journal, 198(1), 3–4.
Weeks, C. C., & Butterworth, A. (2004). Measuring and auditing broiler welfare. London: CABI.
Welfare Quality®. (2009). Welfare Quality ® Assessment protocol for poultry (broilers, laying hens) (p. 116). Lelystad, The Netherlands: Welfare Quality Consortium. http://www.welfarequality.net/network/45848/7/0/40. Accessed May 12, 2015.
Wemelsfelder, F., Knierim, U., Schulze-Westerath, H., Lentfer, T., Staack, M., & Sandilands, V. (2009). Qualitative behaviour assessment. In B. Forkman & L. Keeling (Eds.), Welfare quality reports no. 9—Assessment of animal welfare measures for layers an broilers (1st ed., pp. 113–119). Uppsala: Welfare Quality Consortium.
Yeates, J. W., & Main, D. C. J. (2008). Assessment of positive welfare: a review. Veterinary Journal (London, England: 1997), 175(3), 293–300.
Acknowledgments
This research was funded by Capes (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) and Araucária Foundation.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Souza, A.P.O., Molento, C.F.M. The Contribution of Broiler Chicken Welfare Certification at Farm Level to Enhancing Overall Animal Welfare: The Case of Brazil. J Agric Environ Ethics 28, 1033–1051 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-015-9576-5
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10806-015-9576-5