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Sweden poultry welfare: Ross 308 chickens under scrutiny
Undercover footage obtained by the organization Djurens Rätt has revealed welfare concerns on Swedish poultry farms, specifically regarding the Ross 308 broiler chicken breed. The footage shows birds struggling to stand, walk, or breathe due to their rapid growth rate. Experts, including researchers from Linköping University, note that these chickens increase their weight 50 times within a 35-day lifespan, often resulting in soft skeletons that cannot support their body mass.
The Ross 308 breed accounts for 99 percent of all broiler chickens in Sweden. While industry organization Svensk Fågel maintains that the animals are healthy and well-cared for, critics point to high mortality rates and systemic issues. Some researchers suggest the mortality rate is an unnecessary consequence of the current breeding system.
In response to the findings, Swedish Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren has been summoned to the Committee on Environment and Agriculture. The controversy highlights a broader European trend; countries such as Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands are already moving to phase out these fast-growing breeds to improve animal welfare standards.
Entities
Djurens Rätt · Linköping University · Linköpings universitet · Peter Kullgren · Ross 308 · Svensk Fågel · Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet · Sweden
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Ross 308 chickens have soft skeletons that cannot support their body weight. www.aftonbladet.se · nordfront.se
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Ross 308 breed accounts for 99 percent of all broiler chickens in Sweden. www.aftonbladet.se · www.dagligvarunytt.se · nordfront.se · www.tv4.se
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren has been summoned to the Committee on Environment and Agriculture. www.dagligvarunytt.se
- [● 4 SOURCES] The industry organization Svensk Fågel states that the animals are healthy and well cared for. www.aftonbladet.se · www.dagligvarunytt.se · nordfront.se · www.tv4.se
- [● 4 SOURCES] The organization Djurens Rätt obtained footage from inside Swedish chicken farms. www.aftonbladet.se · www.dagligvarunytt.se · nordfront.se
- [● 3 SOURCES] Ross 308 chickens increase their weight 50 times during their 35-day lifespan. www.aftonbladet.se · nordfront.se · www.tv4.se
- [● 4 SOURCES] Norway is phasing out fast-growing broiler chickens due to animal welfare concerns. www.dagligvarunytt.se · razydzisiaj.pl · zielona.interia.pl · www.tv4.se
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Only two out of 21 county administrative boards are performing expected animal welfare inspections. www.dagligvarunytt.se