Animal welfare

Scandi Standard’s goal is to be the industry leader in animal welfare. Together with carefully selected growers, we strive to promote well-being for and prevent diseases in our chicken throughout the entire value chain. Healthy chickens efficiently convert feed into meat, and it is essential that the animals thrive and do not need unnecessary medication. No one benefits from a sick animal. Good animal welfare enables resource-efficient production of high-quality products, while poor animal welfare entails a risk of increased disease, mortality and rejection.

Collaboration with growers

Our growers’ knowledge, understanding and care for chickens is the most important factor for guaranteeing good animal welfare and for creating conditions for healthy, thriving and growing chickens. The quality of the day-old chick greatly affects the chicken’s health and growth. Choosing good parent birds and handling the fertilized eggs correctly during the incubation period ensures that the day-old chicks received by our growers are strong and healthy.

To thrive and grow, the chickens must be able to move freely and have a clean house and sufficient space. The bedding has a major impact on our chicken’s health. Dry bedding is comfortable for the chickens, maintains their immune system and reduces the risk of spreading diseases. Chicken also requires good lighting, ventilation, and equipment for feed and water. The quality of the bedding is checked by examining the condition of the foot pads, which are registered for each flock of chickens upon arrival at the slaughterhouse.

Feed composition is another important part. Nutrient content and quality have a major impact on the health of chickens and the efficiency of feed use. Chickens are very good at converting feed into meat, and feed efficiency is an indicator of the quality of the feed, and how well the chickens are being cared for.

Facts about growers

• The threshold value for stock density, i.e., the permissible number of chickens in the same flock, varies depending on site and national legislation. Scandi Standard’s average density falls below the EU’s prescribed maximums for stock density and is adapted to animal welfare outcomes.
• The health of the flocks is monitored daily, and the housing environment is assessed using several metrics such as temperature, air humidity and air quality.
• All feed is produced using carefully selected ingredients. The use of feed with the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), in this case soy and corn, is widely discussed throughout the agricultural industry. Scandi Standard has chosen to adhere to local conditions and customer requirements and currently requires the use of GMO-free feed in Sweden and Norway, and organic chicken in Denmark.

Quality initiatives

Scandi Standard’s Centre of Excellence, established in 2021, focuses on animal welfare and chicken rearing. In 2021, efforts targeted sustainable feed by replacing soy protein with local ingredients. Testing in Finland and Sweden from 2022-2023 showed promising results, with further trials ongoing in Finland.

From 2023-2024, the focus shifted to the Chicken Quality Program, measuring growers on eleven KPIs related to animal welfare, quality, food safety, and productivity. The program, already implemented in Ireland, Finland, and Denmark, aims to improve operations through customized actions and will be expanded across the Group.

Transport and slaughter

To achieve a calm environment, the chickens are collected prior to slaughter by trained staff in adapted vehicles. Vehicles with temperature-controlled ventilation are used in countries with cold climates. Transport times are kept short because broiler growers are generally located close to the production plants.

Transport times and arrival times are planned and registered to ensure that all chickens are handled within set time frames and that they are always slaughtered on the day of transportation. The chickens are inspected by Scandi Standard’s staff and an independent veterinarian. The wings are checked as an indicator of how well the loading was managed and wing damage is followed up systematically.

Facts about transport and slaughter

• The average transport distance in Scandi Standard’s countries is one to two hours, well below the statutory maximum time.
• All chickens are stunned before slaughter. Controlled atmosphere stunning (CAS) is used at most Scandi Standard production plants, as well as electrical stunning in Denmark and Lithuania.

Antibiotic usage

Increased antibiotic resistance is a global health challenge and we believe that Scandi Standard has an important role to play in minimizing the use of antibiotics in food production, particularly when acquiring and integrating operations that are beyond the Nordic region into the Group. The use of antibiotics among Nordic growers is very low – close to zero.

Scandi Standard has a very strict policy on the use of antibiotics and other types of medication. Per current Nordic legislation, antibiotics must not be used as a preventive measure in the rearing process, unlike in many other countries. Only sick animals may be treated, following a decision by a veterinarian.