The weeks of nerves and anticipation are over. The judgment is in on one of the most important legal cases for animals in history.

The judges have ruled in favour on our main argument - that the law says that animals should not be kept in the UK if it means they will suffer because of how they have been bred.

This is a huge moment for animals in the UK.

A billion fast-growing Frankenchickens are raised with suffering coded into their DNA each year. In light of this ruling, we believe that farmers are breaking the law if they continue to keep these chickens.

However, Defra, the Government department responsible for farming, has been let off the hook on a technicality. Because Defra has been silent on fast-growing breeds of chicken, the judges found they had no concrete policy that they could rule against. This means that our case has been dismissed and the judges have not ordered Defra to act.

It is clear: by not addressing this major animal welfare crisis, Defra has failed billions of animals - and the farming community. This must change.

While this ruling has failed to force the Government to act, it has confirmed our view that farmers are acting criminally by using fast-growing breeds. We will now explore bringing private prosecutions against mega-farms that use Frankenchickens.

The cruel use of Frankenchickens is possibly the biggest animal welfare crisis of our time. With your continued support, we will use this new ruling to do everything we can to bring it to an end.

For me, this judgment brings a mixture of joy and frustration. But there's another emotion in the mix. A deep feeling of gratitude. It has taken a whole community to win today's historic victory for animals. Throughout this years-long battle, we have been supported by Advocates for Animals, the UK's first law firm dedicated to animal protection. The RSPCA gave supporting evidence in court. And thousands of animal lovers like you have stood firmly by us.

So thank you, deeply, from all of us at The Humane League UK. Today, we are all part of history. Tomorrow, we will continue our work to build a kinder world for animals.

Yours,

Sean Gifford, Managing Director of The Humane League UK