Based on scientific research, professional recommendations, and recognized best animal-management practices, the animal welfare standard for broiler production developed by Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) presents the approved Certified Humane® requirements for the rearing, handling, transport, and slaughter of broiler chickens. A full chapter (Part 3 – Environment) of the standard is dedicated to facilities.

Would you like to learn more about how to design housing that promotes broiler welfare, including flooring type, bedding, electrical systems, and optimal lighting design? Read on.

Facility records that support welfare

The Certified Humane® program requires a record for each flock that includes a checklist of critical control points related to bird welfare. This record must be continuously updated and readily available whenever an HFAC inspector requests it.

The checklist of critical points must include:

• Total area available to the birds;
• Total number of birds;
• Total number of drinkers and feeders or total linear feeder space;
• Feeding program;
• Target air-quality and temperature parameters by age;
• Lighting schedule and levels;
• Emergency procedures (for example, actions in case of fire, flooding, automatic equipment failure, or when ammonia or temperature exceed acceptable limits).

Electrical Installations

When designing electrical systems, it is essential to ensure that:

• Birds cannot access them;
• They are properly insulated;
• They are protected from rodents;
• They are correctly grounded;
• They are periodically checked for electrical leakage.

Floor Design

Broiler housing must have flooring that can be effectively cleaned and disinfected to prevent the buildup of parasites and disease-causing agents.

Concrete floors are recommended instead of dirt floors because they allow more effective cleaning and disinfection.

Concrete Floors

Concrete floors in broiler houses must be solid, smooth, and durable. They should not have large holes or cracks, and any damage must be properly repaired.

Bedding

All broiler housing must have the entire floor covered with suitable bedding that provides comfort. Birds must have continuous access to this bedding.

Appropriate broiler litter must:

• Consist of material with suitable particle size;
• Be high quality (clean, dry, low dust, and absorbent);
• Be turned to remain loose and dry;
• Have sufficient depth to dilute droppings;
• Prevent excessive fecal contamination of birds’ feet;
• Allow birds to perform dust-bathing behavior;
• Be periodically redistributed and topped up with fresh material when needed.

Lighting Program Design

Certified Humane® standards require that the lighting program in broiler facilities be designed to reduce leg problems and ensure adequate rest. Birds must receive at least six continuous hours of darkness each day.

Light Intensity

Throughout the day, lighting levels must allow birds to see caretakers and enable easy inspection. The lighting system must provide an average of at least 20 lux across the entire housing area.

→ Want to learn more about broiler chicken welfare? Access the full HFAC Broiler Production Standard: https://download.certifiedhumaneasia.org/chickens-broiler

Intensive production systems often ignore the basic needs of these animals, leading to overcrowded spaces, poor thermal comfort, inadequate lighting, and unbalanced diets. That’s where the Certified Humane label becomes essential. It establishes strict handling standards that prioritize the health, natural behaviors, and dignity of broilers throughout their entire lifecycle.

To clarify key doubts and demonstrate how certification promotes a more ethical and responsible production model, we’ve answered the most frequently asked questions about broiler chicken welfare. This content is valuable for both producers and conscious consumers.

How is broiler chicken welfare ensured?

Animal welfare is guaranteed when chickens are raised in environments that meet their physical, behavioral, and physiological needs. This includes balanced nutrition, continuous access to clean water, sufficient space for movement, temperature control, effective ventilation and proper lighting.

What are Certified Humane standards for broilers?

The Certified Humane® program is based on eight core pillars:

• Nutritious feed without growth-promoting antibiotics;

• Ample clean drinking water;

• Comfortable housing with space to move;

• Dry, safe bedding;

• Lighting with defined light and dark periods;

• Thermal comfort;

• Air quality control;

• Proper pasture management when outdoor access is provided.

What is humane broiler farming?

It’s a farming model that respects chickens’ natural behaviors and basic needs. This means ensuring conditions that minimize stress, avoid physical suffering and promote health and quality of life from birth to slaughter.

What are the requirements for certified poultry houses?

Poultry houses must allow free movement, protection from weather and toxins, environmental enrichment – such as perches, controlled lighting and a maximum stocking density of 30 kg/m². Electrical installations must also meet safety standards.

What should broiler chickens be fed?

Feed must be nutritionally appropriate and provided in sufficient quantity to avoid undernourishment or obesity. Growth-promoting antibiotics and animal protein (except eggs) are prohibited. Feeders must be clean, available in sufficient numbers and placed no more than 4 meters from the birds.

Can broilers eat feed with antibiotics?

No. Certified Humane standards prohibit the use of antibiotics for growth promotion. The focus is on keeping birds healthy through good management practices, not additives that may harm welfare.

What is the ideal stocking density for broiler houses?

The maximum allowed is 30 kg of birds per square meter. This ensures all birds can move freely, stretch their wings and access food and water without excessive competition.

Why should overcrowding be avoided?

Overcrowding increases stress, promotes the spread of disease and can cause physical injuries like footpad burns. It also makes it harder for birds to access food and water evenly, compromising overall welfare.

What should broiler floors and bedding be like?

Floors should preferably be concrete, with bedding that is dry, clean, absorbent, and dust-free at all times. Wire flooring and cages are prohibited. Bedding may include straw or grains to encourage natural scratching behavior.

What is the best type of drinker for broilers?

Drinkers may be bell-type (1 per 100 birds), nipple (1 per 20), or cup (1 per 28). Height must match the birds’ age, and equipment must avoid leaks that could wet the bedding.

Do broilers need outdoor access?

Not necessarily. However, if pasture access is provided, it must be well managed, with appropriate vegetation, shade, good drainage, and at least 1 hectare per 1,000 birds. Daily access for a minimum of 8 hours is required.

What is free-range broiler farming?

It refers to systems that provide outdoor access in protected natural areas. Birds can explore the outdoors from the fourth week of life. This system enables natural behaviors and can improve welfare, if properly managed.

How should temperature be managed for broilers?

Broilers must maintain a body temperature around 41°C. Variations above 4°C can be fatal. Poultry houses need efficient ventilation and, for those built after 2006, evaporative cooling systems are recommended.

What are the lighting requirements for broilers?

Chickens must receive at least 8 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness every 24 hours. This helps regulate biological rhythms, improves rest, and reduces stress.

How can stress be reduced in broiler production?

Through proper housing, controlled stocking density, environmental enrichment, defined light/dark cycles, balanced diet, and gentle handling. Stress weakens the immune system and impairs bird development.

Can flooring cause leg pain in broilers?

Yes. Wet, dirty, or inappropriate flooring can cause foot and hock injuries known as contact burns. These lesions are painful, increase the risk of infection, and impair movement.

What is environmental enrichment in poultry houses?

It involves adding elements that stimulate natural behaviors, such as perches, pecking objects, and foraging substrates. Enrichment reduces boredom and stress, improving psychological well-being.

How to improve ventilation in poultry houses?

Using mechanical or natural systems that ensure constant air renewal, temperature control, and contaminant reduction. In newer houses, evaporative cooling systems are recommended.

How to ensure good air quality for broilers?

Maintain low concentrations of ammonia, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and dust. Adequate ventilation and regular cleaning are essential to prevent respiratory diseases.

What practices are prohibited in Certified Humane broiler farming?

The use of cages, growth-promoting antibiotics, animal protein in feed (except eggs), wire flooring, continuous lighting without darkness, and overcrowding. These go against the welfare principles of the Certified Humane program.

How to obtain the Certified Humane seal for broiler production?

Producers must fully comply with program standards, undergo audits, and maintain up-to-date records. The full standard is available on the Certified Humane Asia website for interested producers.

March 2025

In global markets, animal welfare is no longer just an ethical concern — it has become a key factor for product differentiation, market access, and added value.

In Uruguay, a national audit led by INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria) and INAC (Instituto Nacional de Carnes) estimated over USD 31 million in annual losses due to bruises, abscesses, and high pH levels in carcasses. Most striking: 97.8% of these losses are avoidable through better handling from farm to slaughter. This is not just a local issue — it’s a signal for the entire region.

From Uruguay and Paraguay to Argentina and Brazil, we share extensive production systems, natural pastures, and well-adapted breeds. However, the full potential of this production base is not yet reflected in our ability to capture greater value in the markets we already serve.

What do these markets demand today?

• Animal welfare, environmental, and feeding system standards
• Traceability and product integrity from origin
• Good practices to reduce stress and improve meat quality
• Clear communication of product attributes to the consumer

For instance, in the U.S., 65% of “Claim Seekers” only buy meat from humanely raised animals and are willing to pay more for labels like grass-fed, antibiotic-free, or Certified Humane®.

Overall, 31% of U.S. consumers consider animal welfare when purchasing meat, and 63% want to know more about the origin and production conditions of their food. This is not just a trend — it’s a structural shift in how meat is valued.

This transformation is also taking place at the farm level. More and more producers are adopting technology and process-based management, not only to improve quality and animal welfare, but also to optimize efficiency and increase productivity — key drivers of business profitability.
At the same time, increasing the value of the final product — when the entire chain improves its performance — becomes a powerful indirect way to enhance producer profitability through the positive spillover of a better coordinated and differentiated value chain.

A holistic view of the sector is gaining relevance, where success doesn’t depend on a single link, but on the coordinated performance of the entire meat value chain. Final product quality starts at the Farm level, and tools like traceability — beyond sanitary control — are now seen as shared opportunities for differentiation and value creation.

The region has a strategic opportunity: to reposition meat not just as a nutritious and natural food, but as produced under responsible, traceable standards that align with what global consumers are increasingly demanding.

This is not simply a cost — it’s an investment in the future of our products, brands, and reputation as a region that produces high-value food. It aligns with the principles of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, which promotes sustainable beef production from environmental, social, and economic perspectives.

In this context, it is essential to continue fostering dialogue among those working across the sector. Shared learning and real-world experiences are key to advancing toward a more competitive and sustainable meat industry.

In Asia, where animal production is a vital industry, following these procedures is crucial to ensure the sector’s safety and sustainability.

Moreover, biosafety is one of the necessary requirements for a company or property to receive the Certified Humane animal welfare certification, which goes beyond the aspects of humane species management. For more information on certification, visit Certified Humane Asia.

The Certified Humane standards establish specific rules for the rearing of different animal species, such as laying hens, broilers, swine, dairy and beef cattle, among others.

These guidelines are adapted to ensure that biosafety standards are maintained throughout production in Asia, where diverse climatic and environmental conditions require specific practices for each region.

Preventive biosafety actions require Asian producers to meet stringent requirements to eliminate the risks of animal contamination, preserve health, and ensure safety at every stage of production.

These practices should be combined with controlling the flow of animals between various life stages, training handlers, and implementing a quality management system.

Key practices include:

• Isolating the farm at a safe distance from potential vector sources;
• Fencing the property;
• Washing and sanitizing facilities and vehicles;
• Restricting visits;
• Implementing a sanitary void between each batch;
• Adapting the vaccination program to local conditions;
• Sanitary management measures;
• Isolating and treating sick animals;
• Using potable and treated water for animal feeding and hygiene;
• Strict quality control of feed ingredients;
• Proper treatment of waste and effluents;
• Appropriate disposal of facility waste and deceased animals.

When preventive biosafety measures are adopted in Asia, they can prevent or control outbreaks and epidemics, such as Avian Influenza (H5N1), Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), and COVID-19.

With the growing concern about disease transmission, farm activities must continue in a way that maintains necessary precautions and meets all the animals’ needs.

All biosafety criteria must be rigorously followed, along with meeting animal welfare requirements. Companies that implement these practices in Asia not only protect the health of their animals and workers but also ensure consumer safety and the quality of the products sold.

The importance of vaccines

Just like humans, animals also need vaccinations to become immune to specific diseases in the region.

This is one of the main sanitary management procedures that lead to biosafety in animal production.

Vaccines protect animals against diseases naturally occurring in the region where the herd is located, considering factors such as age, sex, species, and type of management.

Beef cattle

Vaccines for beef cattle are essential to prevent diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, such as foot-and-mouth disease and brucellosis.

Failures in vaccination can result in significant economic losses and a negative impact on animal health.

Poultry

Poultry also follows a rigorous vaccination program, adapted to each local epidemiological situation in Asia.

Diseases such as Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis are prevented through specific vaccination methods, such as oral or spray methods, which are widely applied in the region.

Swine and sheep

For swine and sheep, robust biosafety programs, including vaccination against diseases like classical swine fever and parvovirus, are vital to prevent outbreaks that could devastate production. Proper planning and correct application of these vaccines are essential to ensure herd health and food safety.

Biosafety in animal production is crucial to meet the requirements of Certified Humane certification, ensuring that the practices adopted are aligned with the highest international standards of animal welfare.

For more details on how to adapt your property to the required standards, visit Certified Humane Asia.