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Questioning the ethics of freshly ‘freed’ hens
Poultry Industry Calendar of Events
2020
JAN 28-30 – International Production & Processing Expo, Atlanta, US www. ippexpo.org
FEB 16-19 – Australian Poultry Science Symposium (APSS), Sydney NSW www.apss2020.com.au
MAR 25-26 – APF Poultry Nutrition Symposium, Bangkok, Thailand E: nmukhtar@uaar.edu.pk
MAR 25-27 – Mediterranean Poultry Summit, Cordoba, Spain www.mpn- wpsa.org/spain2020
APR 8-9 – National Poultry Show, London, Canada www. westernfairdistrict.com/national- poultry-show
MAY 17-19 – PIX/AMC, Gold Coast www.pixamc.com.au
MAY 26-28 – Meat, Fish, Seafood & Poultry Summit, Crocus Expo International Exhibition Center, Moskovskaya, Russia www.10times. com/meat-fish-seafood-poultry- summit
JUN 5-9 – National Poultry Show, Sydney, NSW www.rasnsw.com.au
AUG 16-20 – World Poultry Congress, Paris, France www.wpcparis2020.com
NOV 4-5 – Poultry Xpo, Stratford, Canada www.poultryxpo.ca
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AS it should be, the majority of our time is focused on progressing the needs of industry, but what of those who are not thinking about the industry as a whole and are actually under- mining the protocols so many farmers adhere to?
I am referring to organi- sations that state they un- dertake hen rescue.
The first point is that hens don’t need to be res- cued.
If there are any con- cerns, they would be raised through auditing and the regulatory activi- ties enforced through ani- mal welfare organisations such as RSPCA.
The questions must be asked:
1. Are the hens stolen?
2. Have you trespassed onto someone’s property and into someone’s shed to illegally take these hens?
hens and where are they from? What assurances do you provide that the hen is heathy? What knowledge do the people taking them home have of diseases that impact poultry? Peo- ple need to be aware of diseases such as salmo- nella enteritidis and the risk of looking after a hen without any background knowledge of where they are from.
4. What if the people considering taking these hens do not have a coop
to keep predators away or understand hens need shade or their feed re- quirements? How do you ensure those taking hens can look after them?
Many of these groups
state they are giving the hen away but are happy to take donations to help their cause.
Farmers are once again being attacked by these groups for doing some- thing ‘wrong’ when as an egg-producing com- munity we know farmers have nutritionists focused on the food and water intake of hens, care for animal welfare in relation to shade and inside envi- ronments and know the background to each hen from day old or pullet.
Just as the cattle in- dustry has traceability for cattle through NLIS tags and brands to stop
poddy dodgers.
Most people raise the
movement of eggs with me but we should not for- get the movement of hens.
All who own poultry should keep records of where their hens are from and be able to show how the birds are looked after.
Where are the accredita- tion systems and stand- ards in place for those who decide to take on a hen from these irrespon- sible groups who thumb their noses at the systems industry and government have in place for the bet- terment of the welfare of hens and food safety for humans?
by MELINDA HASHIMOTO CEO
S

Technical Systems Australia Pty Ltd Tel: (07) 5429 2028
Fax: (07) 5429 2038
Mobile: 0424 413 484
Email: scotty@tsa.tech
3. How
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