Over 90% of broilers raised in Switzerland are fast-growing breeds like Ross 308. Four in five can no longer walk normally on the day they are slaughtered. A120 holds the companies behind this to account.
«Young chickens that can barely stay on their feet, flailing helplessly on their backs in the litter.»
This is no isolated case: over 90% of broilers raised in Switzerland are fast-growing breeds.
These so-called «Frankenchickens» go from chick to 2.5-kilo slaughter weight in 35 days. Their bones, hearts and lungs are not built for that speed. Less than one fifth of the birds can still walk normally on slaughter day.
Ross 308 broilers in week six (Baxter et al. 2021, PLOS ONE).
Share of broilers raised in Switzerland.
In Switzerland: more than two per second.
Chickens slaughtered in Switzerland: counting in real time.
The Observatoire du spécisme and Tier im Fokus have filed a complaint with the FSVO against the use of Ross 308: alleged violation of the ban on torture breeding (Art. 10 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Act). Among the evidence: footage from a Swiss broiler farm.
↗ Background · Observatoire article (DE)The European Chicken Commitment (ECC) is a European standard for the breeding, rearing and slaughter of broiler chickens. We demand that the companies we target sign it.
Phase out fast-growing breeds. Switch to slower-growing breed lines: no Ross 308 or comparable lines.
Lower-stress stunning before slaughter. Controlled atmosphere stunning (CAS) instead of live shackling.
Binding husbandry standards. At least 50 lux of natural light, litter, perches, enrichment material, above the legal minimum.
Transparent audits. Public progress reporting according to ECC criteria.
Compliance with animal welfare law. Follow applicable animal welfare law. Everywhere, without exception.
Keep stocking density low. 30 kg/m², no repeated thinning.
The ECC is a proven, economically viable standard — within reach for any company that has the will to do it.
Carrefour, Lidl Germany, Albert Heijn, Nestlé: all have committed to the European Chicken Commitment. Switzerland's retailers are the holdouts.
Starting in 2017, Norsk Kylling converted around 14 million birds to an ECC-compliant breed. Result: ~40 % less on-farm mortality, significantly less antibiotic use, rising farmer incomes. And no price premium at retail. Norway is now phasing out Ross 308 industry-wide by the end of 2027.
Any company that relies on fast-growing breeds like Ross 308 risks becoming our next target. We keep the pressure on until the ECC is signed. Migros is only the beginning.
A120 is young and growing fast. Every extra person adds to the pressure, on the streets and online.
A120 is a Swiss action alliance, founded in May 2026. We take our name from Art. 120 of the Federal Constitution, which enshrines the dignity of living beings in Swiss law.
We confront companies publicly with what animals endure in factory farming, and demand binding improvements.
International animal protection organisation, founded in 2005 in the US. Over 220 companies worldwide have signed the Better Chicken Commitment, many of them following campaigns by THL and partner organisations.
↗ thehumaneleague.orgGlobal coalition of more than 90 animal protection organisations across six continents. Coordinates international corporate campaigns for better animal welfare standards in the poultry industry.
↗ openwingalliance.orgFull press release as PDF.
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