Chicken consumption in Switzerland has increased by 83 percent over the past 25 years, reaching 165 pounds per person per year.
But domestic production is increasingly difficult to cope with increased demand, while animal protection organisations raise concerns about terms of growing chickens.
According to the Proviande meat industry association, chicken has become the second most consumed kind of meat in Switzerland, after pork.
Over the past 25 years, chicken consumption has steadily increased, while other meat consumption has remained unchanged or marked decline, reports the report. SRF.
Social networks, low prices boost consumption
Consumer growth is explained by several factors. One is the influence of social networks, where athletes and public figures promote chicken consumption. In western Switzerland, especially well – known are fast – food restaurants offering chicken – based products.
The relatively low price and the fact that chicken meat is acceptable to consumers from different religious communities have also contributed to increased demand.
Swiss production is not coping with demand
The domestic offer is not increasing at the same pace. According to the Swiss Farmers Union, domestic production covers only 62 percent of poultry consumption.
By comparison, Switzerland has a much higher level of self – worship for other meat species – about 97 percent for beef and 95 percent for pork.
Last year, Switzerland imported about 50,130 tonnes of chicken meat, while about a third of its imports came from Brazil, the Telegraph broadcast.
In early September, Switzerland suspended poultry imports from Brazil as a precaution because of concerns about the use of antibiotics.
Large retail companies — Migros and Copop — said the absence could compensate for imports from European countries. However, this situation could bring price hikes in the coming weeks.
90 percent of chickens are of the fastest growing race
About 90 percent of the chicken meat consumed in Switzerland comes from the Ross 308 chicken, which is characterized by very rapid growth.
Animal protection organizations criticize the use of this race, arguing that rapid growth can cause problems for the well – being of animals.
In Europe, the European Chicken Commentation Initiative ( The ECC, a standard for the well – being of chickens, does not allow the use of fast – growing races.
About 400 companies have signed this commitment, among them KFC, Burger King, Lidl France, Aldy France and LDC Group, Europe’s largest poultry producer.
None of the major Swiss retail networks has signed this agreement, it broadcasts Telegrafi.
However, the well – being of chickens depends not only on race but also on conditions of growth and maintenance. Swiss standards in this respect are considered among the most strict in the world.
Migros Change Strategy
In September, Migros changed its entire Optigal brand line, which makes up about 40 to 50 percent of the company’s chicken sales. The chickens of this line are already of a slower breed.
On average, these chickens grow 42 days, compared to about 35 days for the Ross 308 race.
The change came a year after the Swiss animal protection organisation Observatoirre du spécisme published photos from a farm in the Vaud canton, owned by Micarna company, the Filial of Migras.
Photos showed hens that were lame and presented visible problems associated with weight and skin.
Slower races, but more imports?
Crossing the slower breeds could mean lowering domestic production and increasing imports.
Migros has declared it aims to stabilise, even increase, poultry production in Switzerland. To that end, the company has called for 50 new farms that are willing to deal with poultry growth.
However, due to the current rules of spatial planning and land use in Switzerland, the creation of new farms is expected to be a challenge.
As poultry consumption continues to grow, Switzerland thus faces a dilemma: how to meet consumer demand, while simultaneously maintaining domestic production and high standards for animal welfare./Telegraphy/
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