Alternatives for killing 1-day-old chicks
Published: January 21, 2009
Source : Wageningen Univ. Animal Sciences Group newsletter
For the production of eggs and meat, highly specialised breeds of chicken are used. Because the male chicks of laying breeds neither lay eggs nor are they profitable as a source of meat, they are killed as day-old chicks. In the Netherlands, 30 million male chicks are killed at hatch, every year. The Animal Sciences Group in Lelystad, in collaboration with the Rathenau Institute and the Agricultural Economics Institute (LEI) have conducted research to find out what 'the public' thinks about possible alternatives for killing day-old male chicks. Information was gained by holding discussions with focal groups, in combination with a wider public survey. The outcome of this research was published in a report headed 'Killing day-old male chicks: isn't there an alternative?' presented in October to the Lower Chamber of the Dutch Parliament.
A clear majority of those who responded rated the killing of day-old male chicks 'unpleasant', 'bad', or 'very bad' and almost 60% were in favour of trying to find an alternative. From this result, three technological alternatives for killing day-old chicks, that would gain reasonable acceptance and support from society, have been identified, and will be the subject of further research. These are:
- 1. To pick out the 'male' eggs by looking inside freshly laid eggs.Another alternative i.e. to select the male eggs at a later stage of embryonic development was considered much less favourable.
- 2. To influence sex determination by manipulating the environmental factors that affect sex determination in chickens. However, before following this route, it would be important first to ensure that such changes would not harm the well-being of chickens.
- 3. The third alternative is the same as the first one, except that it would be facilitated by genetic modification, by using a gene for green fluorescent protein. However, this method was considered less favourable in the public survey than the method without genetic modification.
The additional option of 'combination chickens' also received a high score, but, because of the current specialisation into laying or meat chickens, it would be too expensive, i.e. feed costs per egg or per kg meat would at least double. However, it might be a feasible option for a niche market, but it could not be considered as a structural solution for the mass killing of day-old male chicks. Although the option of 'accepting the current method of killing the chicks' was viewed as undesirable, it was nevertheless regarded as a possible realistic option.
Follow-up research will now be started to assess the 'technical' principles of the alternatives, as listed above, for killing day-old chicks, and to amass the knowledge needed for developing these alternatives. Initially, efforts will be focused on the first two alternatives.
Animal Breeding & Genomics (nr. 10 Dec. 2008) newsletter published by the Animal Sciences Group
Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre - Wageningen University
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24 de octubre de 2013
Yes the day old chicks should not be killed as they can be sold as cheap protein in the type of system that Mr. Arshaq Ramzee has pointed out. The feed cost should matter to the locals where the male chicks can grow up on the waste at backyards in rural areas and provide protein to address the concern of undernourishment in the developing countries. So pioneer companies like Venkys should take an corporate social responsibility initiative and be proactive to provide the malnourished population with these chicks for free when they are anyways killing.
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12 de febrero de 2009
Re: Alternatives for killing 1-day-old- chicks
This universal problem, so -to- say, could thrive successively in advanced countries of the world like The Netherlands that had been referred. Take a look at what is happening in Pakistan as enumerated by Dr. Arshaq Ramzee that is the feature(s) in the underdeveloped nations of the world like Nigeria where I come from. So, to destroy these male chiks to me and to a large extent is a wanton destruction which should be discontinued with.
We have several thousands of villages like in Pakistan where these chicks could be sent to for the indegenes to benefit from the cheaply sourced poultry protein. The case of The Netherlands could be used as aids to these villages around and the souls of these multitudes would pray for such countries with this mind set.
However, another dimension I want the impending research to tilt is the development of feed that could serve as fatener for this male chicks such that could have an equivalent substitute for the broiler meat.
Thank you.
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11 de febrero de 2009
This is a good subject.
In India these male chicks of layers are called cockerels, and there is good demand for commercial cockerels in various places in
this country. The Hatcheries sell @ Rs.0.5 to Rs 1.0 per chick depending upon demand. Industry has developed special cockerel feed to get optimum body weight. I feel healthy D.O.C. (day-old chicks) should not be killed.
Dr Sushil Chandra
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26 de enero de 2009
Saving lives of day-old chicks intended to be killed because they are useless commercially is not a option for us. In Pakistan, no chick is killed, either males from GP or layer breeders. They are sold very cheap to customers other than commercial farmers. This is a popular business specially in villages, where homes have ample space to raise these chicks on refuse and ultimately these chicks are consumed as the gain sufficient weight thus providing a good source of protein at a very low cost.
In underdeveloped countries with huge populations and low income, this kind of arrangement helps to produce a good source of cheap protein for those who cannot afford to buy chicken otherwise.
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22 de enero de 2009
This is a good topic for Hatchery Managers.
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