Fowl play: The dark side of poultry farming

The recent avian influenza outbreak in Andhra Pradesh, which has led to the mass culling of lakhs of birds, has once again exposed the vulnerabilities of industrial poultry farming. Farmers suffer significant income losses, while avian influenza cases continue to rise.

Over the past decade, zoonotic diseases have frequently made national and global headlines, with Covid-19 being the most devastating. Adding to this crisis is the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—a concern repeatedly raised by scientists and medical professionals.

The emergence of a zoonotic disease on the scale of Covid-19, but resistant to existing antibiotics, paints a grim picture of a public health disaster with little to no effective treatment options.

Why are poultry birds becoming so susceptible to disease that mass culling remains the only solution? Can they not be treated instead? The answer lies in the very design of modern poultry farming. Poultry bred for both egg production (layers) and meat production (broilers) are selectively bred for industry-specific traits—a process known as “trait selection”. Characteristics such as rapid weight gain, high egg production, and docile behaviour are prioritised at the cost of overall health and immunity.

Broiler chickens, bred for meat, reach slaughter weight in just 30-60 days, depending on the breed, resulting in unnatural body mass relative to their heart size. Many die from Sudden Death Syndrome, as their underdeveloped cardiovascular systems cannot support their artificially accelerated growth.

Layer hens, bred for high egg production, lay around 300 eggs per year, compared to their wild counterparts, which lay only 15–20 annually. This excessive egg production significantly weakens their immune systems, making them susceptible to disease.

To maximise output, the industry relies on high-density confinement systems such as battery cages, where birds are kept in overcrowded conditions for up to two years. These conditions elevate stress levels, further compromising immunity and increasing susceptibility to avian influenza. Additionally, with thousands of birds housed together, it becomes impossible to detect and treat individual cases of illness, allowing infections to spread rapidly. By the time a disease is identified, mass culling remains the only feasible containment measure.

Beyond animal welfare concerns, farmers themselves are at a severe disadvantage. The poultry industry is dominated by a handful of large corporations that control the supply of chicks, feed, medicines, and equipment, leaving farmers with no alternative but to buy from these monopolies. Farmers are unable to sell eggs in a free market, as industry cartels keep egg prices artificially low.

In January 2022, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) directed the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) to cease its practice of dictating egg prices, recognising its impact on market competition. By controlling market dynamics, farmers are forced into cycles of perpetual debt, particularly during adverse conditions, where they earn as little as Rs 0.40 per egg in profit. To minimise financial losses, poultry farmers are encouraged to administer antibiotics preventively, often through shared water sources, to keep birds “healthy.” This practice, however, has devastating consequences. Indiscriminate, unregulated antibiotic use accelerates AMR, leading to stronger, more resilient pathogens. Antibiotic residues not only remain in meat and eggs but also seep into the soil and water through poultry waste.

If a zoonotic disease with the potential of it being an epidemic or a pandemic emerges that is also antibiotic-resistant, the consequences would be catastrophic — a public health emergency even worse than Covid-19.

The crisis in poultry farming is not inevitable — solutions exist that can benefit both farmers and public health:

Decentralising egg production: Encouraging cage-free systems with lower stocking densities can reduce disease risks and allow farmers to retain higher margins.

Government support for small-scale backyard poultry farming: Expanding initiatives like the one by Kerala State Poultry Development Corporation (KEPCO), where farmers are given free chicks and feed, will protect farmers from exploitative pricing and reduce economic losses.

Holding corporations accountable: Several MNCs have pledged to source only cage-free eggs by 2025. Governments must ensure they honour these commitments.

Promoting alternative proteins: Offering tax benefits and subsidies to alternative protein companies can diversify farmer incomes and reduce dependency on intensive poultry farming.

Investing in sustainable, indigenous protein sources: Increased research and development and market support for millets, soybeans, and other nutrient-rich crops can enhance food security while reducing reliance on industrial poultry.

Incentivising ethical and organic farming: Tax benefits for farmers who adopt sustainable, organic, and humane farming methods will align agricultural practices with public health and environmental goals.

(The writer is an animal welfare advocate)