# Assessment of Compliance with Animal Welfare Requirements Across Poultry Species and Production Categories

## TL;DR

This study analyzed poultry farm inspections in the Czech Republic to assess how well different bird species met animal welfare standards over nine years.

## Contribution

The study provides a comparative analysis of compliance trends in animal welfare across poultry species using official inspection data.

## Key findings

- Turkeys and ducks showed the highest compliance with welfare requirements, while geese had the lowest.
- Compliance improved over time for broiler chickens, ducks, and geese but declined for laying hens and turkeys.
- Official inspection data can identify poultry sectors needing targeted welfare improvements.

## Abstract

Animal welfare is an important part of poultry farming and is closely linked to animal health, food quality, and public expectations. Poultry farms are regularly inspected by veterinary authorities to ensure that animals are kept under acceptable conditions. In this study, we analyzed the results of these official inspections to evaluate how well different types of poultry farms complied with animal welfare requirements in the Czech Republic over a nine-year period. We focused on five types of poultry: laying hens, broiler chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese. The aim was to compare the proportion of birds kept in farms that met welfare requirements and to examine how this changed over time. The results showed that most poultry were kept in farms that complied with welfare requirements, but clear differences existed between species. Turkeys and ducks had the highest levels of compliance, while geese had the lowest. Over time, compliance improved in broiler chickens, ducks, and geese, but declined in laying hens and turkeys. These findings show that compliance with welfare requirements does not develop in the same way across all poultry sectors. The study demonstrates that official inspection data can help identify poultry sectors that may need greater attention to further improve animal welfare, benefiting animals, farmers, and society.

Animal welfare is a key component of sustainable poultry production and is routinely monitored through official veterinary inspections. The aim of this study was to determine the level of welfare compliance among different poultry species and production categories, to compare compliance levels across these groups, and to assess long-term trends using official inspection data. The study was based on the results of supervisory inspections conducted by veterinary inspectors in poultry farms in the Czech Republic between 2016 and 2024. Welfare compliance was evaluated in laying hens, broiler chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese using a standardized system of welfare assessment checkpoints applied during official controls. Inspections were classified as compliant or non-compliant based on the presence or absence of deficiencies, and overall compliance levels were calculated as the proportion of animals kept in farms with compliant inspections. Across the entire study period, the proportion of poultry kept in farms with compliant inspections ranged from 82.8% to 98.4%, with the highest compliance level observed in turkeys, followed by ducks and broiler chickens, while the lowest compliance level was recorded in geese. Differences among poultry species and categories were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Comparison of two time periods (2016–2018 and 2022–2024) revealed significant improvements in compliance for broiler chickens, ducks, and geese, whereas significant declines were observed for laying hens and turkeys (p < 0.001). These results demonstrate clear differences in welfare compliance among poultry species and categories and indicate that compliance trends over time are not uniform across the poultry sector. Official veterinary inspection data provide a valuable tool for large-scale assessment of welfare compliance and for identifying poultry sectors that may benefit from targeted welfare improvement measures.