Source: MEATINGPLACE, 2/18/14

The Animal Welfare Institute criticized new animal welfare guidelines released by the National Chicken Council and said it has petitioned USDA to enact regulations requiring humane handling of chickens at slaughter.

The animal advocacy group said it sent a letter to Mike Brown, NCC president, condemning the guidelines as too weak.

Among the group’s contentions: dim indoor lighting that facilitates feed consumption and weight gain also causes leg abnormalities and eye problems, while crowded environments lead to high ammonia levels that cause skin and respiratory ailments.

The group said NCC guidelines covering slaughter practices are not in compliance with recommendations of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Specifically, it pointed to the percentage of birds allowed with broken bones, length of time birds are held at slaughtering facilities and lack of minimum electric current levels for stunning, among other criticisms.

NCC spokesman Tom Super said NCC stands by the updated guidelines, which were formulated with advice from an academic advisory panel consisting of poultry welfare experts and veterinarians.

“The guidelines cover every phase of a chicken’s life and offer the most up-to-date, science-based recommendations for the proper treatment and humane care of broiler chickens,” he said in an e-mailed statement.

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