27. It is a requirement of the Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994 that all broiler breeders must be inspected at least once a day. On units we visited the birds were inspected more frequently than this legal minimum, and staff entered the sheds about four times a day for a variety of management purposes. Although the flocks were not necessarily thoroughly inspected on each occasion, the stockperson was nonetheless able to detect any obvious problems that might have arisen.
28. In order to reduce the risk of welfare problems developing, we conclude that thorough inspections are required at least twice daily. These may be linked with other visits to the poultry houses but each inspection should then be undertaken as a separate, specific procedure. Inspection is particularly effective at feeding time when any birds which are not fit will be slow to feed and can be identified.
29. The Council accepts that it is not possible to examine each bird individually during routine inspection but a good indication of flock health must be gained on each occasion. Light intensity should be increased to an appropriate level during the inspection to stimulate activity and to enable all the birds, at all parts of the house, to be seen. The stockperson should pass close enough to all of the birds to see them clearly and for them to be disturbed and so move away. This should enable the identification of any individual that is sick, injured or weak and which must be removed to a hospital pen, treated or humanely culled.
30. It is a legal obligation to inspect automatic equipment daily. Such equipment is essential to modern broiler breeder production and we noted that staff on poultry units we visited complied with this requirement.
31. A systematic inspection of all flocks must be undertaken at least twice each day at appropriate intervals. In order to ensure thoroughness, the stockperson should walk within about 3 metres of every bird and encourage it to move.
32. Light levels during inspection must be sufficient to ensure that all birds are clearly visible.