While most business people welcome innovative approaches, Irish farmers may be perplexed should Tesco replicate all of its British systems here. The company said last week it is going to teach its poultry suppliers about the body language of chickens and turkeys, to ensure their birds have happy lives.
"There is absolutely no reason why any chicken or turkey should have to suffer during its life," says the supermarket giant's agricultural manager, Ms Judith Abrehart. "We want every single worker to be able to recognise the signs which say that a bird might be in distress, so that action can be taken immediately."
Chicken body language is very different from other animals, she says, and the signals they send mean different things.
"Happy chickens speak with a quiet, contented little cheep noise. They love to bathe in dust, or preen, or forage. Stressed out chickens will shout very loudly, with a piercing, persistent squawk,"
Strange, but The Margin hasn't noticed the chickens on Tesco's shelves making any noises at all. Whatever could have silenced them?
