Key facts
- Denmark wants to ban fast-growing chicken breeds due to animal welfare concerns.
- The Ross 308 breed reaches 2 kilograms in 33 days, causing health problems.
- The government is seeking a ban at both national and EU levels.
- Hidden-camera footage showed chickens receiving minimal darkness to accelerate growth.
The Danish government is proposing a ban on fast-growing chicken breeds, known as 'turbo chickens,' due to widespread animal welfare issues. Danish Animal Welfare Minister Christian Rabjerg Madsen stated that these chickens grow too rapidly for their bodies to cope, leading to injuries and mobility problems. The proposed ban, which would affect breeds like the Ross 308, aims to be implemented at both national and EU levels. This initiative follows a recent documentary that revealed chickens being kept with minimal darkness to accelerate growth. While a broad political consensus appears to exist, legal and financial aspects are still under consideration. The Danish poultry sector has raised concerns about maintaining competitiveness against imports if the ban is enacted.