Consumers are increasingly demanding that all animals raised for food are treated with respect and adequately cared for throughout their lives. The people and companies involved in raising chicken for food share the public concern. They recognize their obligations to ensure that the animals on their farms are well cared for, not only ethically, but also in terms of health and, ultimately, economics.
Carefully formulated feed, access to an abundant supply of clean water, adequate space to grow, professional sanitary attention, and proper handling are all important factors in broiler management.
Producer organizations such as the IPC (International Poultry Council) and the American NCC (National Chicken Council) have therefore developed Animal Welfare Guidelines and Audit Checklists which are increasingly being adopted in the chicken industry. These guidelines cover every stage of the chicken’s life and offer science-based recommendations for proper treatment.
Underlying these guidelines are some essential aspects, such as:
- access to plenty of food and all the water they can drink, possibly supplied by automatic systems;
- adequate shelter structures, where broilers are reared in compliance with their physiological and ethological needs, with particular attention to the healthiness of the (dry) litter which helps to maintain the health status of the flock;
- the health profile must also be adequately monitored, with mainly preventive interventions to avoid infections and contaminations of various kinds.
In this respect, the birds are given vaccinations against diseases for which vaccines are available. The veterinary pharmacy industry and the technologies related to the correct administration of vaccines and other formulations with probiotic action are very active.
Giordano Poultry Plast is particularly careful to accompany the evolution of the zootechnical and veterinary industry, with its range of products for the supply (manual and automatic distribution lines of feed and water), as well as to provide state-of-the-art technological aids for vaccination and other treatments, both for poultry and for other species of zootechnical interest. These last through its specialized division: Valery Technologies.
The regular optimization of the production process and in parallel of the level of animal welfare, also intend to contribute positively and effectively to the dialogue with that part of public opinion that shows hesitation towards the use of animals in the food chain.