Throughout Europe, one kind of chicken reigns1 supreme. The “Ross 308” is a breed developed specifically to grow rapidly — in just 35 days, it can be slaughtered2 and packaged for sale. No other breed on the market is as quick to reach its ideal weight, but many come close.
Animal welfare3 activists take issue with the cruelty inherent4 in this factory-farming process, though, and have taken steps to change it. Their efforts in the UK have yielded5 a measure of success, with big names like KFC agreeing to abide by the Better Chicken Commitment.
Entities6 that have signed the Better Chicken Commitment, an international initiative aimed at eliminating the use of fast-growing breeds like the Ross 308, agree to switch to slower-growing breeds by 2026. They will also monitor the welfare of the chickens they are responsible for and provide them with lower-density enclosures. Most chickens that people eat today are raised in cramped7, inhumane conditions. When these circumstances combine with generations of breeding for rapid growth, the result is great suffering for the chickens involved. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found that they are more susceptible to diseases and that they have much higher mortality8 rates when compared with slower-growing breeds.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR / 照片：FLICKR提供
Some might say that people cannot, in good conscience9, eat meat that comes from animals that are tortured so badly in the process of being raised. However, protein is an important nutrient, and the low cost of chicken makes this vital component to a healthy diet more accessible, as vegetarian or vegan diets are not the best option for everyone. The Better Chicken Commitment and similar animal welfare plans strike a good balance between compassion and pragmatism.
在整個歐洲，有一種雞稱霸市場。「樂絲308」是專門為快速生長而開發的品種－－只需三十五天，牠就可以被屠宰並包裝出售。市場上沒有其他品種能夠如此迅速地達到其理想體重，但許多品種也快接近了。
不過，動物福利積極分子強烈反對這種工廠化養殖過程中固有的殘忍行為，並已採取措施加以改變。他們在英國的努力取得了一定程度的成功，肯德基等知名企業也同意遵循「更好的肉雞承諾」。
簽署了「更好的肉雞承諾」（一項旨在消除使用樂絲308等快速生長品種的國際倡議）的實體，同意至西元2026年前改用生長較慢的品種。他們也將監測他們負責的雞的福祉，並為牠們提供低密度的雞舍。今天人們吃的雞大多數都是在狹窄、不人道的條件下飼養的。當這些情況與為了快速生長而進行的世代繁殖相結合時，對所涉及的雞來說結果是極大的痛苦。皇家防止虐待動物協會發現，與生長較慢的品種相比，牠們更容易感染疾病並且死亡率更高。
有些人可能會說，憑良心，人們不能吃來自在飼養過程中遭受如此嚴重折磨的動物的肉。然而，蛋白質是一種重要的營養素，而雞肉的低成本使得這種健康飲食的重要成分更容易獲得，因為素食或純素飲食並不是每個人的最佳選擇。「更好的肉雞承諾」和類似的動物福利計劃，在憐憫心和實用性之間取得了良好的平衡。
MORE INFORMATION
abide by 遵守；遵循
enclosure n. 圈地；(有圍籬的)場域
inhumane adj. 不人道的；不仁慈的
susceptible adj. 易受影響的；易受傷害的
pragmatism n. 實用性；務實
KEY VOCABULARY
1. reign vi. 盛行；主宰／reign supreme 占絕對優勢；稱霸
In the 1920s and 1930s, the “Art Deco” style of architecture reigned supreme in Europe and the US.
在西元1920及1930年代，裝飾藝術風格的建築稱霸歐洲及美國。
2. slaughter vi. 宰殺；屠宰
Janine was horrified to learn that people slaughtered dogs for food in certain regions of the world.
潔寧震驚地得知世界上某些地區的人會宰殺狗作為食物。
3. welfare n. 福利；福祉
The people who work in this care home really care about the welfare of their elderly patients.
在這間照護之家工作的人真的很關心他們老年病人的福祉。
4. inherent adj. 固有的；與生俱來的
All species have an inherent will to live and will adapt to their environments in order to survive.
所有物種都有與生俱來的求生意志且會適應環境以求生存。
5. yield v. 取得；產生
Intense efforts to fight COVID-19 yielded three separate vaccines by the end of 2020.
截至西元2020年底，在對抗新冠肺炎的重大努力下產生了三種不同的疫苗。
6. entity n. 實體；獨立個體
According to US law, corporate entities have the same rights as people do to spend their money freely in the political arena.
根據美國法律，公司實體與一般人民有相同權利能在政治舞台上自由花費。
7. cramped adj. 狹窄的；擁擠的
Although Sarah was glad to have found a seat on the train, it was made for shorter people and she felt cramped and uncomfortable the whole ride.
儘管莎拉很高興在火車上找到了一個座位，但它是為身高較矮者所設計的，因此她在整趟車程中都感到擁擠不適。
8. mortality n. 死亡／mortality rate 死亡率
Countries with more mining and other similar hard labor jobs have higher mortality rates.
擁有更多採礦和其他類似艱苦勞力職業的國家死亡率更高。
9. conscience n. 良心；良知
Larry was tempted to steal from the convenience store, but his conscience held him back.
賴瑞很想從便利商店裡偷東西，但他的良心阻止了他。
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