Certainly not. This is especially so if by the term farmer we mean someone who does this professionally and deals with the poultry supply chain that provides the market to which the end consumer turns. Professional breeders work to provide healthy food and make a fair profit from their work, which are closely and inevitably linked goals. It is necessary for the farmer to attend training courses and comply with dozens of rules and regulations aimed at protecting the health of the animal. The Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) has drawn up a list of qualities that a farmer must possess: in-depth knowledge, professional skills, personal qualities, animal care orientation, and the ability to work with animals with respect. However, producers, veterinarians and educators agree that animal welfare is important because: well cared for animals are healthier and are also a guarantee of food safety for consumers, animal welfare is a component of long term sustainability for livestock farms. A good farmer today (2022) who complies with good production and management practices is reasonably certain to bring to the end of the production cycle 97-98% of the chickens he or she ‘coops’ at the beginning. In the past, on rural farms and homesteads, the average mortality rate of animals was very high due to the impossibility of applying adequate preventive measures against the main avian diseases.
