Transition to European Chicken Commitment has a major impact

Avec considers that this study differs from previous research in that it looked at the cost per kilogram of poultry meat. The outcome is therefore not distorted by differences in yield between regular and ECC chicken. General secretary of Avec, Birthe Steenberg: “We sell meat, not live birds.”

Feed conversion

The research showed that throughout the chain, production costs increase from €2,018 to €2,774 when switching from regular to ECC; an increase of 37.5%. This includes feed costs, among other things. Slow growers have a less favourable feed conversion ratio. Moreover, the chickens live longer and therefore consume more energy. A kg of ECC chicken meat therefore requires 34.5% more feed and more land use. In addition, water consumption is 34.4% higher than in the production of regular chicken. Adas also calculated that CO₂ emissions for 1 kg of meat under the European Chicken Commitment are 24.4% higher.

The cost increase for a complete switch from regular to ECC is even higher, argued managing director Wolfgang Schleier of the German Avec member ZDG. Adas’ study did not take the additional costs into account because the existing capacity is not fully utilised. Schleier says that this is the case at breeding companies, hatcheries, during transport, at feed factories and in the slaughterhouse. ZDG therefore calculated an additional 14.8% in costs. Per kg of chicken meat. This amounts to a total cost increase of 54.2% compared to regular poultry meat. The German trade association also calculated the consequences for consumers, who would have to pay €9.70 extra for a kg of chicken fillet.

Price of animal welfare

Emma Calvert of the European consumer organisation, Beuc, emphasised that it is not only the price that consumers pay in the supermarket that should be taken into account, but also the total costs paid by society. She stated that 90% of consumers are in favour of legislation that sets higher standards for animal welfare. For example, consumers want an end to cage housing and that animals be given more space.

Research by Beuc in 9 EU member states from November 2023 shows that 70% of consumers in Europe are willing to pay more for better animal welfare. However, 17% have difficulty affording meat. Although this is less relevant for fresh poultry meat than for other types of fresh meat. Former Avec chairman, Paul Lopez, indicated that it is less important what consumers say they will do, than what they actually buy in the store.

Production decline

Switching from regular to ECC chicken also means a decrease in production of 44% per m² of housing space. This relates to the stocking density, the flock cycle and the meat percentage of the carcass. The Adas research showed that this is 56.29% for regular broiler chickens and 49.94% for ECC chicken: which is 11% less. If the entire regular broiler farming sector in the EU were to switch to ECC production, almost 10,000 new barns would have to be built to maintain production volume. For the same number of birds, 48% more floor space would be required, and to produce the same amount of chicken meat even 66% more m² would be required. The cost of these new houses amounts to more than €8 billion. Apart from that enormous sum, it is unlikely that the authorities involved would give permission for that.

An alternative is to import more poultry meat from third countries with lower animal welfare standards. This then leads back to the familiar discussion about importing meat that is not produced in the EU.

Freedom of choice

Avec chairman, Gert-Jan Oplaat, emphasised in the webinar that affiliated members should produce what consumers want to buy. Avec advocates freedom of choice for consumers. They can then choose either an animal-friendly product – which has more environmental impact – or a cheaper product. Broiler farmers in the Netherlands also made this point when it comes to the fresh supply on supermarket shelves. That discussion, however, seems to be a rearguard action because retailers in the Netherlands have already indicated that Beter Leven chicken with 1 star is the minimum standard for animal welfare.

Claire Bury of the European Commission pointed out in the webinar the importance of carefully weighing costs and benefits. In her view, the Adas study does not look at mitigating the negative consequences, for example, through the usual transition period. The deputy director-general of DG Sante also indicated that it is a challenge to compare ECC chicken with regular production because there are differences in standards between EU member states and with different private labels. Plus, chickens are also raised organically.

So what is that being compared to? She called on the poultry sector to work together with other stakeholders to improve animal welfare. Avec secretary, Birthe Steenberg, made it clear that the sector will do its part.