Killing of chicks still permitted on a transitional basis
Berlin, June 13, 2019. The Federal Administrative Court ruled today that the Killing male day-old chicks is still permissible under animal welfare law is. The court confirmed the existence of a "reasonable reason" for killing the male chicks and thus the compatibility with the German Animal Welfare Act until practical procedures for sex determination in the egg are available.
ZDG President Friedrich-Otto Ripke on today's decision:
“We welcome the fact that the Federal Administrative Court has confirmed the decisions of the lower court and the opinion of the federal government. It is a wise decision that reflects reality and gives time for science to successfully complete the procedures for determining sex in the egg. We see our legal opinion as confirmed by the decision of the Federal Administrative Court, but we also see the decision as a clear mandate for all those involved to work intensively on making practicable alternatives to in-ovo gender determination a success. Our express commitment is: we want to stop killing chicks today rather than tomorrow. However, this is not possible without practical alternatives. Everything must be done to ensure that the appropriate technology is available across the board for all hatcheries in Germany as soon as possible.
With this final decision, legal certainty has finally been created for laying hen hatcheries in Germany. We expressly welcome the fact that this secures the future of hatcheries in Germany.”
To the background:
In order for a process to be recognized as practicable for all German hatcheries, it must meet the following conditions from the point of view of the economy:
- nationwide actual availability of the technology (sorting machines) for all hatcheries nationwide
- sufficient speed with a required sorting capacity of around 100.000 eggs per day
- Accuracy of at least 95 percent when determining gender
- at most slightly reduced hatch rate of the female eggs
These prerequisites are not fully met in any of the currently known analysis methods for in ovo sex determination. In principle, the poultry industry does not favor a methodical approach in scientific research on alternatives to chick killing. However, we share the view of the German Animal Welfare Association, according to which the identification of the sex should take place as early as possible.
The German laying hen farmers supply Germany with around 47 million laying hens per year with around 14 billion table eggs. With a per capita consumption of 235 eggs, the degree of self-sufficiency is already below 69 percent.
About the ZDG
The Central Association of German Poultry Industry Association represents as a trade roof and top organization, the interests of the German poultry industry at national and EU level towards political, official and professional organizations, the public and abroad. The approximately 8.000 members are organized in federal and state associations.
