The Danish government has announced plans to pursue a national ban on "turbo chickens" while simultaneously calling for the prohibition of this fast-growing breed across the European Union. This decisive move follows widespread public outrage sparked by allegations of lawbreaking involving one of Denmark's major poultry producers, as revealed in a recent TV2 documentary.
The investigation uncovered secretly filmed footage from a chicken coop in North Jutland, showing that producer Christian Tvergaard violated Danish regulations by providing birds with only half the legally required amount of darkness per day. This practice was intended to encourage increased feeding and faster growth. The Ross 308 breed, commonly known as the turbo chicken, is currently the most prevalent in Danish poultry production. These birds grow from approximately 50 grams to 2 kilograms in just 33 days, a rate that can cause severe issues with their bones and organs, whereas other breeds require between 46 and 63 days to reach the same weight.
Christian Rabjerg Madsen, Denmark's minister for nature and animal welfare, stated that he is discouraging consumers from purchasing turbo chickens. He emphasized the need for a thorough legal and economic investigation before implementing a ban but confirmed that the government will work toward prohibiting the breed both nationally and at the EU level. In response to the documentary, Tvergaard admitted to making wrong decisions regarding lighting programs and workflows, noting that he has since tightened procedures and rosters to correct these issues.
The proposal for a ban is gaining political momentum with cross-party support in Denmark, though industry leaders warn that a national-only restriction may be ineffective. Klement Hinkbøl Ribergaard, chief executive of chicken producer Danpo, argued that if Denmark bans domestic production while allowing the import of fast-growing chickens of questionable quality, animal welfare will not genuinely benefit. Currently, 95% of chickens in the EU are raised in intensive systems designed to produce meat as cheaply as possible, a trend described by the Eurogroup for Animals as a "race to the bottom."
Reineke Hameleers, chief executive of the advocacy group, highlighted that fast-growing breeds are inherently predisposed to suffering due to their rapid development, which often leaves them unable to stand properly. She praised Denmark's political willingness to halt this practice as a progressive example backed by scientific evidence that the EU should follow. Similarly, Britta Riis of Animal Protection Denmark condemned turbo chickens as the result of "deeply unethical and grotesque form of breeding" leading to systematic abuse. Her organization is calling for all chickens to be bred over a period of 56 days, matching the timeline for organic breeds.
Animal welfare has become a central topic in recent Danish public debate, with pig farming issues dominating the last general election to such an extent that it was dubbed the "pig election." Furthermore, the country is scheduled to cease mink farming by August 2029 after the government decided not to seek an EU exemption for the practice.
Sources: The Guardian World.