Response to Animal Welfare Strategy

The Animal Welfare Strategy was published today, December 22 2025. Here is the Vegetarian Society’s response in particular about our campaign to end male chick culling in the UK, “Ban Hatch and Dispatch”

‘We welcome the Government’s recognition of the need to end male chick culling in its newly released Animal Welfare Strategy, which states: “We would like to see an end to the practice of killing day-old chicks.” This signals the first time that the Government has set out its desire to end this farming practice in a strategy document.

The strategy acknowledges the estimated 45 million male chicks needlessly culled each year and references the Animal Welfare Committee’s recommendation to transition to in-ovo sexing technology, alongside a commitment to “encourage industry to end the practice of culling male laying hen chicks.” This recognition is a testament to the tireless efforts of politicians, celebrities and members of the public who have spoken out against this cruel and unnecessary practice, which remains permitted in the UK. 

However, while the strategy includes some promising measures for animal welfare, it unfortunately stops short of committing to an imminent ban on male chick culling. Without a clear and time-bound commitment, this deeply cruel and avoidable practice will continue on a vast scale. Public support for ending male chick culling is overwhelming, and politicians and public figures have repeatedly called for decisive action. 

We now call on the British Egg Industry Council and its members to publish a roadmap and timeframe for the phasing out of male chick culling, as public support for ending male chick culling is overwhelming, and politicians and public figures have repeatedly called for decisive action. Indeed, the UK risks falling further behind countries that have already taken action, including France, Germany and Austria. A roadmap should set out a transition period for implementation of the relevant technology, with based on experience within other countries should be no more than two years.

If the industry fails to publish and commit to a roadmap, then we urge the Government to move forward and legislate for a ban on male chick culling a long-overdue step that would reaffirm the UK’s leadership in animal welfare. We look forward to working with the Government to achieve this vital next step, together.

We would also like to acknowledge the excellent campaigning work that has resulted in the inclusion in the strategy of: Moving away from confinement systems such as colony cages for laying hens and the use of pig farrowing crates; Banning trail hunting and banning snare traps.’