In a world that is changing at breakneck speed, chicken producers are being pushed to raise chickens that take longer to grow and will cost more at the meat counter. The paradoxical situation parallels the consumer-driven animal welfare platform that is pushing the transition toward free-range or cage-free eggs.
Source: New York Times, May 1, 2017 (paywall).
The Global Animal Partnership, which sets standards for the welfare of animals raised for meat, said that by 2024 it would give animal-welfare certifications only to slow-growth chickens, a move that would affect some 270 million broilers, or about 3 percent of the nation’s flock.
INSIGHTS: We present this information for your consideration. Personally, I can’t tell the difference between a free-range egg at $4.00/dozen and the conventionally produced eggs at $1.85/dozen except in my wallet. If this slow-growth chicken movement gains momentum, the resulting birds better be extra tasty.