Catalonia accounts for 95% of high-density industrial chicken production. In Catalonia, almost all industrial chicken output comes from intensive farms. A study highlights extreme rearing conditions and rapid bird growth. Regional authorities also lead the country in the number of poultry slaughterhouses.
In Catalonia, 95% of all chicken products are supplied by industrial farms with high stocking densities and accelerated fattening. According to a new study by the Observatorio de Bienestar Animal (OBA) and AnimaNaturalis, this concerns almost 30 million birds raised in conditions experts describe as extreme for animal welfare. Catalonia also ranks first in Spain for the number of operational poultry slaughterhouses—there are 30 here.
The report's authors note that most farms use breeds of chickens capable of reaching up to 2.8 kg in just 42 days. Such a growth rate, in their assessment, exceeds the natural limits of the birds' bodies and leads to serious problems: animals show bone, heart, and muscle disorders even before slaughter. The study emphasizes that mass production relies on maximum biological strain, which impacts the product's price for consumers.
During the fieldwork phase, OBA and AnimaNaturalis specialists, together with photojournalist Aitor Garmendia, documented conditions at five large farms in Catalonia and Castilla-La Mancha. The photographs show overcrowded sheds, birds with clear signs of disproportionate growth and persistent injuries. According to the authors, such situations are not the exception but the norm for the industry, where more than 810 million animals are slaughtered annually in Spain.
Of the 900 registered poultry farms in Catalonia, more than 750 operate under an intensive system focused on mass production. The report emphasizes that such conditions lead to frequent foot injuries due to constant contact with contaminated surfaces, contribute to the spread of bacteria, and increase dependence on antibiotics. European regulations allow a density of up to 42 kg of poultry per square meter, although the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends limiting this to 11 kg to minimize animal suffering.
Catalonia ranks second in production volume behind Andalusia, but remains the leader in infrastructure: it accounts for 26% of all poultry slaughterhouses in the country. In 2025, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), Spain produced 1.6 million tons of chicken meat, and the number of slaughtered animals exceeded 810 million. In Catalonia alone, more than 334,000 tons of products were produced in one year.
In conclusion, the report calls on the Spanish poultry sector to adopt the so-called European chicken standard, which involves a shift to slow-growing breeds and reduced stocking density. It is also recommended to reduce meat consumption and develop alternative plant-based protein sources.
Issues related to animal welfare and mass production in the agricultural sector regularly become topics of public debate. Similarly, as was recently discussed regarding the impact of new rules on the public healthcare sector—covered in the article about the launch of the “España Crece” fund and regulatory changes, the topic of standards in poultry farming also raises questions of regulation and oversight at both the EU and regional levels.
For reference: Spain is among the top three producers of chicken meat in Europe. In recent years, the country has been paying increased attention to animal welfare and transparency in the food chain. The introduction of new standards may affect not only housing conditions but also the market structure, product prices, and the sector's export opportunities.
