Why is chicken so cheap?

The Economist

28 Mar 201906:24

Summary

TLDRThis script explores the remarkable rise of chickens as the most populous birds on Earth, with 23 billion individuals due to selective breeding and technological advancements in farming. It delves into the history of chicken domestication, the impact of the 'chicken-of-tomorrow' competition, and the modern reliance on technology for raising broilers. The video addresses the ethical and health concerns associated with intensive farming, contrasting it with free-range and organic practices, and touches on the economic factors driving consumer choices and farming practices.

Takeaways

🐔 **Most Populous Birds**: Chickens are the most numerous bird species on Earth, with a population exceeding 23 billion.
🌟 **Fastest Growing Meat Product**: Chicken meat is the fastest growing meat product in the industry.
📉 **Declining Prices**: Despite the growth, the price of chicken meat has significantly decreased over time.
🏭 **Technology in Farming**: Modern chicken farming heavily relies on technology, such as CCTV and CO2 monitors, to manage large flocks efficiently.
🏆 **Chicken-of-Tomorrow**: The 1940s saw the 'chicken-of-tomorrow' competition that spurred the development of fast-growing, meatier chicken breeds.
🔄 **Controlled Life Cycle**: The life cycle of broiler chickens is now entirely controlled by human technology, including artificial light and temperature.
🚀 **Rapid Growth**: Modern broilers grow to four times the size of their 1950s counterparts in a fraction of the time.
🔁 **Efficient Farming Cycle**: Chicken farms operate on a tight schedule, with cleaning and preparation for new batches of chicks happening every 7-10 days.
💸 **Market-Driven**: The demand for affordable chicken drives the industry to focus on intensive farming methods to keep costs low.
🌱 **Alternative Farming**: Free range and organic farming methods offer chickens a better quality of life but come at a higher cost to consumers.
🚫 **Health and Ethical Concerns**: Intensive breeding can lead to health issues in chickens and raises ethical questions about animal welfare.

Q & A

How many chickens are there globally, and how does this compare to other birds?
-There are approximately 23 billion chickens globally, which is ten times more than any other bird species.
What technology has David Speller pioneered in chicken farming?
-David Speller has pioneered the use of CCTV and CO2 monitors in chicken sheds to improve farming conditions and management.
How many chickens does David Speller oversee as a consultant in the UK?
-David Speller oversees the raising of around three million chickens in the UK as a consultant.
What significant event in the 1940s changed the way chickens were bred?
-The chicken-of-tomorrow competition in America in the 1940s led to the development of a fast-growing chicken breed designed for a larger and affordable protein source.
How has the life cycle of broilers changed due to modern farming practices?
-The life cycle of broilers has been entirely preordained with the use of artificial light and temperature control, allowing them to grow faster and bigger than ever before.
What is the typical age at which broiler chickens are processed for meat?
-The biggest broiler chickens on the farm are around 39 days of age, and the processing starts around day 34.
What are the health implications for chickens if they live beyond their planned life cycle?
-If chickens live beyond their planned life cycle, they develop huge medical problems and cannot sustain their rapid weight growth, putting pressure on their internal organs.
How does the gene pool's size impact the health of chickens in large-scale farming?
-An increasingly small gene pool in chicken farming makes the birds more vulnerable to diseases, as they are all genetically identical.
What are the differences in living conditions between intensively reared, free-range, and organic chickens?
-Intensively reared chickens have the least space, with up to 17 adult birds in a single square meter. Free-range chickens have more access to open air runs, while organic chickens typically live the longest, at 81 days, and are free from antibiotics, hormones, and synthetic chemicals.
What is the average life span for a barn yard chicken compared to a broiler chicken?
-A barn yard chicken can live up to 10 years, while broiler chickens live between 35 and 40 days.
What factors influence the consumer preference for different types of chicken farming practices?
-Consumers are largely driven by cost, with intensively reared chickens being significantly cheaper than free-range or organic options, leading to over 95% of broiler chickens being intensively reared in the UK.

Outlines

00:00

🐔 The Evolution and Technology of Chicken Farming

This paragraph discusses the remarkable growth of the chicken population, which stands at 23 billion, making it the most populous bird species on Earth. It highlights the history of chicken domestication dating back 8,000 years and the significant advancements in selective breeding that began in the 1940s with the 'chicken-of-tomorrow' competition in America. The focus is on how modern technology, such as CCTV and CO2 monitors, has revolutionized chicken farming, allowing for efficient management of large flocks. The life cycle of broiler chickens, which are bred for meat, is now entirely dependent on human technology, with their growth and life span being controlled through artificial light and temperature. The rapid growth of chickens has led to a fourfold increase in size since the 1950s, and the farming process is highly efficient, with a cycle that includes cleaning and preparation for new batches of chicks every 34 to 39 days. The paragraph also touches on the ethical considerations and health concerns related to the intensive farming practices, including the potential for disease outbreaks due to the limited gene pool and the physical strain on the birds' bodies.

05:03

🌱 The Impact of Farming Methods on Chicken Welfare and Consumer Choice

The second paragraph delves into the differences between intensively reared, free-range, and organic chickens, focusing on living conditions and consumer preferences. It points out that organic and free-range chickens enjoy better living space compared to their intensively reared counterparts, which can have up to 17 adult birds in a single square meter. The paragraph emphasizes the cost difference between intensively reared chickens and those raised under organic or free-range conditions, which influences consumer choices. Despite the potential for better animal welfare in organic and free-range farming, the demand for such products is limited due to their higher cost. The majority of broiler chickens in the UK are intensively reared, with organic and free-range making up a small percentage. The farmer's perspective is presented, stating that they are market-driven and will continue to breed chickens intensively as long as consumers prefer cheap and abundant chicken. The paragraph concludes by highlighting the importance of understanding consumer preferences in the chicken farming industry.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Chickens

Chickens are the most populous bird on the planet, with 23 billion of them at any given time, which is ten times more than any other bird species. This keyword is central to the video's theme as it highlights the prevalence and significance of chickens in the modern world. The script discusses how chickens have evolved from small, wild jungle birds in South East Asia to the most numerous domesticated bird, largely due to selective breeding and technological advancements in farming.

💡Selective Breeding

Selective breeding is the process of deliberately choosing and mating animals with specific desirable traits to produce offspring with those traits. In the context of the video, selective breeding is highlighted as a key factor in the development of modern chickens, which are bred for fast growth and large meat yield. The 'chicken-of-tomorrow' competition in the 1940s exemplifies this, where the goal was to breed chickens that could provide more protein at an affordable cost.

💡Broilers

Broilers are chickens that are bred specifically for their meat. The video explains that the life cycle of broilers is entirely predetermined, with them growing faster and bigger than ever before, relying on human technology for their survival. This term is crucial as it distinguishes the intensive farming practices for meat production from other types of poultry farming.

💡Technological Revolution

The technological revolution in chicken farming refers to the use of advanced tools and systems to monitor and control the environment in which chickens are raised. The video mentions the use of CCTV and CO2 monitors in chicken sheds as examples of such technology. This revolution has drastically changed chicken farming by allowing for more efficient and large-scale production.

💡Artificial Light and Temperature

Artificial light and temperature control are methods used in modern industrialized farming to manipulate the environment in which chickens are raised. The video explains that these controls are necessary for the rapid growth of broilers, as they effectively manage the birds' entire life cycle. This keyword is significant as it underscores the dependency of modern chicken farming on technology.

💡Efficiency

Efficiency in the context of the video refers to the ability to produce a large quantity of product with minimal resources and time. The script describes how modern chicken farming operations are designed for maximum efficiency, with two men managing 200,000 birds, and the rapid growth of broilers enabling multiple cycles of production per year. This keyword is integral to understanding the economic drivers behind intensive chicken farming.

💡Gene Pool

The gene pool refers to the total set of genetic information in a population. The video raises concerns about the chicken industry relying on an increasingly small gene pool, which can make the birds more susceptible to diseases. This is relevant as it points to potential risks associated with selective breeding and the homogeneity of broiler chickens.

💡Free Range and Organic Farming

Free range and organic farming are alternative methods of poultry production that prioritize animal welfare and natural growth. The video contrasts these methods with intensive farming, noting that free range birds have more access to open air, while organic chickens are typically free from antibiotics and synthetic chemicals. These terms are important as they highlight consumer choices and the ethical considerations in chicken farming.

💡Intensive Rearing

Intensive rearing is a method of farming where a large number of animals are kept in a confined space, often with the use of technology to control their environment. The video states that over 95% of broiler chickens in the UK are intensively reared, indicating the dominance of this method in the industry. This keyword is central to the video's discussion on the scale and impact of modern chicken farming.

💡Market Driven

Being market driven means that production decisions are influenced by consumer demand and market forces. The video concludes by emphasizing that as long as consumers prefer cheap and plentiful chicken, the industry will continue to breed chickens intensively. This keyword encapsulates the economic reality that shapes the practices within the chicken farming industry.

💡Consumer Demand

Consumer demand refers to the desire and willingness of consumers to purchase certain goods or services. In the video, it is mentioned that the demand for cheap and plentiful chicken drives the intensive breeding practices. This keyword is significant as it connects the consumer's role to the broader dynamics of the chicken farming industry.

Highlights

Chickens are the most populous bird on the planet, with 23 billion at any given time.

The number of chickens is 10 times more than any other bird species.

Chickens originated as small wild jungle birds in South East Asia.

Chicken is the fastest growing meat product, yet its price has fallen sharply.

Technology revolution has drastically changed chicken farming.

David Speller pioneered the use of CCTV and CO2 monitors in chicken sheds.

One computer manages 45,000 birds in a barn.

Two men can run 200,000 birds with modern farming techniques.

Chickens were first domesticated over 8,000 years ago.

The 1940's chicken-of-tomorrow competition in America aimed to create a fast-growing, affordable chicken breed.

Modern broilers grow faster and bigger than ever before, relying on human technology.

Chickens have changed so quickly, now being four times the size they were in the 1950's.

Efficiency in farming is passed on to the consumer, offering great value for chicken meat.

The life cycle of broilers is entirely predetermined, with the largest birds reaching market size around 39 days of age.

Selective breeding on a global scale has led to concerns about the small gene pool and vulnerability to diseases.

Battery cages for keeping chickens were banned in the EU in 2012.

Free range and organic chickens offer a better quality of life but come at a higher cost.

Organic chickens live the longest, up to 81 days, compared to intensively reared birds which live between 35 and 40 days.

Over 95% of broiler chickens in the UK are intensively reared.

Consumer demand for cheap and plentiful chicken drives the intensive breeding practices.