The company’s announcement was part of its Animal Care Summit, a gathering of global animal care experts, advocates, researchers and farmers.
“We know that trust is earned by responding to consumers and other stakeholders, and that includes a willingness to make significant changes,” said Jim Perdue, chairman of Perdue Farms. “It’s not easy, and it requires commitment, resources and time. But people expect more from Perdue, and we have to keep improving.”
Perdue has also promised its customers a sustainable supply of chicken that meets the criteria outlined in the “Joint Animal Protection Agency Statement on Broiler Chicken Welfare Issues.” These are standards agreed upon by a coalition of nine advocacy groups as meaningful progress to address the main welfare concerns with broiler production.
“Major food companies are increasingly committing to treating chickens in their supply chains better. Perdue, with this announcement, becomes the largest poultry producer to ensure that this demand will be met,” said Josh Balk, vice president of Farm Animal Protection at The Humane Society of the United States. “We applaud Perdue for focusing its improvements on the core areas of concern within the poultry industry and this holistic approach demonstrates all that’s possible in creating better lives for billions of chickens.”
Perdue’s recent improvements include:
• Giving chickens more space, more light during the day and longer lights-off periods for rest
• Increasing the number of chicken houses with windows
• Continuing to study the role of enrichments in encouraging active behavior
• Raising and studying slower-growing chickens
• Moving to controlled-atmosphere stunning (CAS)
• Strengthening relationships with farmers
“We commend Perdue’s commitment to meet the rapidly growing demands for higher welfare chicken. Not only is it the right thing to do for the birds but it’s the right thing to do for the business given the certain direction of the market,” said Leah Garces, executive director, Compassion in World Farming. “Their transformation and willingness to collaborate, be transparent and continually do better makes them a pioneer amongst poultry producers.”
