Page 12 - Demo

Page 12 %u2013 National Poultry Newspaper, January 2025 www.poultrynews.com.au%u25a0 Letter to the Editor %u25a0 Letter to the Editor %u25a0It is the responsibility of those making submissions to ensure the correctness of their claims and statements. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.IN response to a Cant Comment article, the following is some feedback from one of our readers. Hello Brendon, although I do not agree with your views on egg farming, your articles always make for interesting reading.Before I begin, it is important to note that the farming system will not guarantee animal welfare.Farm management is the key to animal welfare and it should be the farmer%u2019s number one priority when farming any animals.In National Poultry Newspaper Vol 7 No. 12 December 2024, you make some points to support your argument, however it is important that you expand these points and tell the whole story.You mention the countries that have phased out or are in the process of phasing out caged egg production. You should also mention that over 80 percent of the world%u2019s egg production still comes from caged hens.You mention how caged hens have weaker bones but forget to mention that more birds suffer broken bones in the non-caged system compared to the caged system.You mention the welfare issues without telling readers how the non-caged systems have more disease issues, with an increase in parasites internally and externally resulting in the increased use of chemicals and antibiotics.You also mention that an increasing number of Australians are choosing to buy eggs from alternative systems. The fact is that supermarkets are not giving people the choice.Why? To increase their profits.Surprising? Keep in mind, supermarkets only sell about 40 percent of the eggs produced in Australia.Natural behaviours are important, however scientists agree that our layer hens originate from the old jungle fowl, where natural behaviours such as foraging, perching and dustbathing were critical to their survival. The caged hens of today are well protected from predators, they are well fed and free from parasites, therefore these behaviours are no longer critical to their survival.It is also important to mention that the caged system has a lower carbon footprint compared to non-caged systems.You may ask where I got this information from? I am a farmer who has been looking after poultry for over 50 years and have farmed in all three systems %u2013 free range, barn and caged. What I have learnt has come from practical experience, not out of a book.Many people may not be aware, but the egg industry started with free range and barn laid systems, and they worked well when the farms were small. The problem was that people wanted to live in the cities and the farms needed to get bigger to feed the growing population. That was why the caged system was designed. This system was designed for volume production.As a farmer, I chose the caged system because it offered a biosecure and fully automated method where I could manage the volume of birds I needed to meet the increased demands of my customers and improve the welfare of my birds. As a bonus, this resulted in both food security and food affordability for my customers.In Australia, we are now seeing many companies or farmers choosing to run the non-caged systems in volume to increase profits.Unfortunately, this is also increasing the risk of disease. It is not a coincidence that disease outbreaks in the egg industry have increased with the increase in these alternative systems.Wild birds are carriers of diseases, in particular migratory birds.As farmers, we cannot control wild birds.Allowing large commercial flocks to roam free outdoors increases the risk of disease and it is only a matter of time.There will be a new pandemic, few doubt it. They will possibly come more frequently as a result of climate change and increased contact between humans and animals. Expert concerns are more focused on figuring out what the infectious agent will be and if we are prepared to face it. Most infectious disease specialists are looking to the US, where the H5N1 avian flu continues to mutate and dangerously approaches humans. The pandemic potential of this highly pathogenic strain keeps the whole world on alert due to its acquired ability to transmit among mammals and from cattle to workers on farms.Below is a list of the more recent avian influenza outbreaks in Australia, all began in free range:%u2022 1997 %u2013 Tamworth NSW%u2022 2012 %u2013 Maitland NSW%u2022 2013 %u2013 Young NSW%u2022 2020 %u2013 Lethbridge Victoria, Bairnsdale Victoria, Kerang Victoria%u2022 2024 %u2013 Lethbridge Victoria seven properties, Terang Victoria, Hawkesbury NSW six properties, ACT two properties.Facts support that wild birds, in particular migratory birds, carry the AI virus and spread it around the world. Biosecurity on a freerange farm is near impossible, and it has become a numbers game. The more birds you have outdoors the higher the risk.While many people think letting the birds roam free is better, consider what the farmer is ordered to do when there is a disease outbreak? We are ordered to lock up our birds.In conclusion, we should not become fixated on a farming system.We should be working together to assure the best animal welfare outcomes, no matter the farming method. As farmers, the health and welfare of our chickens is and will always be our number one priority. Our family chose to run the caged system because we had to meet the increase in demand for our product and the caged system allowed us to increase supply and better manage the health and welfare of our birds. We understand our product is not for everyone. That is why we focus on supplying the Australian families who want our eggs to feed their families. Brian Ahmed of LT%u2019s Egg Farm and Tony Nesci of Diamond Valley Egg Farm Ph: 08 8359 1588 E: sales@titanfan.com.auMADE IN AUSTRALIA FOR AUSTRALIAN CONDITIONS SINCE 1990LOCALLY manufactured at Titan%u2019s factory 12-14 Kenworth Rd, Gepps Cross, South Australia 5094Stir Fan FH800/0.37kw/4 blade/1ph/3ph EC (variable speed 200 rpm %u2013 1000 rpm)ORIGINAL Stir Fan available ON/OFF 1ph/3phNEWLight eliminators available in 20mm and 40mm spacing Made to your specifications.Height: 1380mmWidth: 1380mmNEWHeight: 1380mmWidth: 1380mmDepth: 820mmWall Mounted FanWM1220/1.1kW/3B/3Ph/Direct DrivePart Number: PF8125Titan fans suitable for variable speed controls.Wall Mounted FanWM1220/1.5kW/6B/Belt Drive Scan for links that support Brian and Tony%u2019s argument.Brian Ahmed of LT%u2019s Egg Farm. Photo: Holly McGuinness