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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent

Animal welfare groups lose court challenge over ‘Frankenchickens’

A protest outside the high court in London earlier this month.
A protest outside the high court in London earlier this month. Photograph: Vuk Valcic/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock

Animal welfare campaigners have said billions of chickens have been left to lead “utterly miserable lives” after the failure of a high court challenge to the legality of fast-growing breeds, which suffer a multitude of health problems.

The Humane League UK (THL), represented by Advocates for Animals, argued that the environment secretary, Thérèse Coffey, had erred in law by permitting farmers in England to keep so-called “Frankenchickens”, which reach their slaughter weight of approximately 2.2kg in 34 to 36 days.

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