Effects of Stocking Density on Performance, Welfare, and Economic Profitability in Broiler Chicken Production

Abstract

Broiler chicken production plays a crucial role in meeting global animal protein demand due to its short production cycle and high efficiency. One of the most common strategies to increase profitability in intensive broiler systems is increasing stocking density. However, higher stocking density affects not only live weight production per unit area but also biological performance, animal welfare, carcass quality, and long-term economic sustainability. Therefore, the impacts of stocking density must be evaluated using a holistic approach. The literature indicates that beyond a certain threshold, increasing stocking density leads to negative changes in growth performance, feed conversion ratio, flock uniformity, and health parameters. In particular, stocking densities exceeding 35–40 kg/m² are associated with increased metabolic load during the final growth phase, limited physiological adaptation capacity, and marked performance losses. High stocking densities also increase the prevalence of welfare problems such as footpad dermatitis, skeletal disorders, and behavioural restrictions, which adversely affect carcass quality and marketability. From an economic perspective, although higher stocking densities may increase production per unit area in the short term, net income gains are often limited or reduced due to increased feed costs, health-related expenses, carcass condemnations, and quality penalties. Recent studies emphasize that production strategies aiming to maximize biological capacity can create significant long-term economic risks and that sustainable profitability requires identifying an optimal stocking density rather than maximizing density. In conclusion, stocking density in broiler production represents a critical balance between performance, welfare, and economic profitability. Sustainable and competitive broiler production systems should focus not on maximum stocking densities but on determining an optimal density that protects animal welfare, ensures production stability, and supports long-term economic returns.