Denmark's Minister for Nature and Animal Welfare Christian Rabjerg Madsen wants to make it illegal to produce fast-growing turbo chickens in Denmark, he told TV 2.
Rabjerg Madsen said he wants to work for a national ban, but that it must be examined legally and economically. "I want to work for a national ban. But it is clear that this is something that must be investigated both legally and economically," he said.
He said he was angry about the images and that there are general challenges with turbo chickens' welfare because they grow too fast for their bodies to keep up.
TV 2 reported on Tuesday that Christian Tvergaard, one of the country's largest chicken producers, broke the law in his production of the Ross 308 breed, also known as the turbo chicken. Berlingske reported that TV 2's hidden recordings came from a chicken barn in North Jutland. The recordings showed that Tvergaard's chickens received only three hours of darkness per day for most of their lives, even though rules require at least six hours.
Three hours of darkness means the chickens eat more and reach a higher slaughter weight, but it is unnatural and not in line with good animal welfare. Ross 308 is the most widespread breed in Danish slaughter chicken production and grows in about 33 days from around 50 grams to 2 kilos. 80 million of the around 120 million annual slaughter chickens in Denmark are of that breed, while other breeds use between 46 and 63 days to reach the same weight. Fast growth can cause problems with legs and organs.
Last year a majority in a state working group concluded that fast growth is associated with poorer animal welfare than slower-growing chickens.
Berlingske reported that Alternativet, Enhedslisten, SF, Radikale Venstre, Liberal Alliance and Conservatives support a ban on extreme breeding in Danish chicken production. Within the government, Radikale Venstre, SF and Moderaterne declared themselves in favour of a ban. "It will be appropriate for Denmark to go ahead and be a good example," said Carl Valentin of SF.
Signe Wenneberg of Alternativet said: "It goes too slowly, and we have to make political regulation. We have to be the adults and regulate and that animals get tolerable lives while they are here. Liberal Alliance and Conservatives said they were ready to vote yes.
Earlier coverage
- Denmark's turbo chicken case tests farm welfare law (28 Oct 2026)