Denmark seeks ban on fast-growing chicken breed
Animal Welfare Minister Christian Rabjerg Madsen wants restrictions in Denmark and across the EU, but legal and financial questions remain unresolved.
Denmark’s government wants to prohibit the Ross 308 chicken breed over animal welfare concerns. Animal Welfare Minister Christian Rabjerg Madsen said he would seek a domestic ban as well as EU-wide restrictions on the birds, commonly called “turbo chickens”.
Madsen said the birds’ rapid growth caused widespread welfare problems. Ross 308 chickens reach around 2 kilograms in 33 days, which can leave them injured or struggling to move. His announcement followed a documentary showing covert footage of a farm where chickens were illegally given only three hours of darkness daily to speed up growth.
The proposal appears to have support from a broad range of parties, although Madsen acknowledged unresolved legal and financial issues. Poultry industry representatives warned that consumers would switch to imported meat, leaving Danish producers struggling to compete. Poultry company Danpo said it was ready to stop using fast-growing breeds provided imports were covered too.
Extending restrictions to imports could face difficulties under EU rules governing the free movement of goods. Denmark has previously sought an EU ban, while an earlier attempt at a domestic prohibition failed. In the Netherlands, parliament is considering a similar national ban proposed by the Dutch government in September.
The European Commission plans to present new chicken welfare rules later in 2026. It has promised to prohibit cages and the killing of day-old male chicks, but has announced no restrictions targeting particular breeds.
