In New Zealand, chicken meat is the largest single source of human campylobacter infections.1 Commercial and backyard poultry also contribute significantly to the spread of diseases in our wild bird populations.2
As surveyed within the Poultry Industry, there is high variability in how serious the farmers take biosecurity.3
MPI reports most of the thousands of chickens and fowls used each year being used for “animal husbandry” research. The majority of the birds used are killed for or in the end of the studies.4
The majority of publications we found on poultry revolved around maximising feeding efficiency and, therefore, profit. This is no surprise, with a retail value of 1.8 billion NZD and around 20 chickens consumed in NZ per capita each year, according to the Poultry Industry Association.5 The demand for their bodies and products creates an incentive for this research. You can learn more about the connection between animal testing and the business of animal agriculture here.
Similarly to the other animals used in farming, this creates a demand for animal experiments as the industry aims to:
- maximise the dollar output per animal;
- innovate its’ way out of climate obligations, as well as
- innovate its way into creating new consumer markets and product trends.
Chickens and markets.
While most chickens are used for research relating to animal agriculture, they are also used for other areas of research; some might surprise you!
For example, Chickens in NZ have been used for:
- agricultural research, including:
- the effect of particle size, preparation temperature, the chickens age or breed,
- how their digestion works
- testing cheaper feedstuffs (meat and bone meal)
- testing feed supplements
- interaction of different nutrients during digestion
- other industry related studies like
- developing easier testing of hormone levels
- testing painkillers and brain activity while in pain
- behaviour research, including:
- remembering a negative experience
- learning to extrapolate between objects and photos of the objects
- telling the duration of something
- if they lose motivation if the correct response at a task is a lot of work
- if expecting a small or big reward influences their behaviour
- studies around unwanted species control to investigate the used toxins
- research trying to model human eyesight in chicks
- cancer drug testing.
We barely found studies on the other species conflated under the “chicken/fowl” section by MPI. But we will keep looking.
Chickens used for science in NZ came mostly from commercial sources, with fewer birds sourced from farms and breeding units.
Discover real-life examples of how chickens have been used in NZ below! We chose a small selection of the studies around maximising feed digestibility or weight gain, as they are all very similar in their setup.
Studying fish life cycles
Fish were sedated and their blood and ovarian tissue were sampled three times.
Investigating effects of invasive fish removal
Using fyke nets and electrofishing, fish were caught on four occasions. Fish were marked with fin clippings around one big removal event where 3 tonnes of fish were caught. In recaptures a week after each marking event, invasive fish caught were killed after the examination.
Trying different techniques for tagging fish
Fish were bait-trapped and treated for parasites. They were used to test different tagging methods. In the second part of the experiment, fish were caught with two different methods, after which injuries and survival over 12 days were monitored.
Trying to estimate habitat quality from body condition
Snappers were hatched from eggs and raised on commercial food. They were kept in 800-litre flow-through tanks containing 170 to 260 fish each. At 80 days, they were fasted killed.
Studying effects of Climate Change on farming in damselfish
Fish were observed for their algae farming behaviour near CO2 vents and at control sites (Bay of Plenty). Small areas were covered to keep the fish away for a month and compare algae growths measured to compare.
Testing the side-bias of fish (if they prefer to swim left or right)
Wild-caught fish were kept for 1.5 years before each fish was placed on a runway to observe their behaviour. Afterwards, fish were observed for schooling movements and some were killed to dissect their brains.
Studying fish behaviour in single-species groups
Young fish were caught in the wild and split into groups of 15, 75, and 150 animals. After being fasted for 24 hours, food was given and an artificial predator was used to study behaviour.
Verifying “fish-friendly” flood pumps
Eels were caught, measured and tagged with transponders into the gut skin. They were later re-captured, observed for wounds and fungus and killed to examine internal damage.
Studying fish near volcanic vents to learn about Climate Change
Fish near volcanic CO2 vents and at control sites were observed and counted. The reaction to baited underwater cameras and predator threats was filmed. Aquarium experiments were conducted with caught fish of different species.
Testing the temperature tolerance of Antarctic fish
Wild-caught fish were kept individually for months in tanks. During temperature experiments, fish of each group were tested for their breathing ability in small tubes before all fish were killed.
Studying population changes in reef fish
Over 1,000 fish were caught by spearing at three NZ locations.
Slowly poisoning fish
Snappers were fasted for three days and then fed with toxic fish. Several died during feeding, and the rest were killed at the end.
Testing the hearing of fish
Fish were anaesthetised and strapped to a plastic slide near an underwater speaker. Electrodes were placed in their head and gills to measure brain activity. For medical imaging, fish were restrained in a plastic tube with a sponge to keep them wet.
