Page 10 - National Poultry Newspaper

Inside view of cage housing (conventional cages).
And while many ad- vances have been made in the Australian egg produc- tion industry, the housing, production method and, in effect, the health and welfare of layer chickens are still questioned by the public and media.
These structures do not include enrichments that may be present in furnished cages such as perches, nesting boxes, or scratch or dust bathing areas.
The number of birds in- side the shed varies de- pending upon the size of the structure but may be up to 30,000 hens.
Housing systems used by the commercial layer in- dustry continue to evolve, with changes driven by population growth, soci- etal awareness, consumer demand and preference, supply chain pressure, technology advances, sci- ence and research.
Outside view of cage housing (conventional cages).
Many producers run more than one type of production system and in some cases more than one production system is oper- ated on the same farm.
Cage free production systems
No production system is ‘better’ than another – each has advantages and disadvantages, and each performs differently against different criteria.
This was achieved by housing hens indoors on raised wires floors – sepa- rating them from their ma- nure and associated dis- eases – and keeping birds in smaller social groups to reduce injuries from ag- gression.
Confusion around free range layer information
WHETHER free range or cage laid eggs are more popular with shop- pers in the local super- market, of import is that the most appropriate sys- tem is being used for the mass production of eggs.
bird genetics, nutrition, routine husbandry, and egg collection and han- dling.
watering systems.
The main distinction be-
food safety codes, includ- ing undergoing third party audits.
The priority is the wel- fare of the hens.
There are different types of systems, with conven- tional cages the most widely used in Australia.
Eggs are laid by hens in indoor floor-based sys- tems with the ability to move about inside a shed.
The following unravels the confusion around free range and cage egg pro- duction and the impact either method has on the ultimate producers – the hens.
Typically, these housing systems have several tiers with a belt between each level to remove manure and prevent it from falling on the birds below.
Hens are housed in a shed with access to an outdoor range area during daylight hours.
Regulated by govern- ment bodies and authori- ties in the sector, there are two current methods of egg production in Aus- tralia – cage and cage free.
Hens are kept in groups of four to 20, with each bird having a minimum space allowance that is prescribed in Australian animal welfare codes.
These systems can have fixed sheds holding up to 30,000 birds with perma- nent ranges or may have smaller flocks of hens housed in mobile sheds with access to different range areas.
Prior to the 1960s, many families had backyard chickens and produced their own eggs.
Cage free includes barn and free range systems.
Modern systems used in Australia include automat- ed climate control, feed- ing, watering, ventilation, lighting, and manure and egg collection.
is best?
Given larger flock siz- es on these, producers needed to find new ways to manage bird numbers along with predators and disease.
These farms vary in size from less than 1000 hens to over 500,000 hens.
Also called ‘non-cage’, this system includes barn and free range.
None of the produc- tion systems are superior across all relevant crite- ria, including food safety, hen health and welfare, biosecurity, environmen- tal sustainability, worker health and safety, and food affordability.
Cage production sys- tems
tween the two is that free range housing provides the opportunity for birds to go outside during daylight hours.
Importantly, while the debate on hen welfare focusses on the housing system, it is ultimately the care and skill of the farm- er that is the greatest de- terminant of the animal’s health and wellbeing. Why do commercial production systems like this exist?
Hens in these systems are housed in a structure, or cage, that is located in- side a shed.
Barn production
Free range production
Free range is the most diverse style of production system.
Which housing system
As the population grew and become more urban- ised, commercial layer farms developed.
Farms with flocks of 20,000–60,000 are most common.
Barn and large-scale free range systems are very similar, with common care and handling practices.
Approximately 55 per- cent of hens are kept in cage production systems, with the remaining in cage-free systems.
Both include an indoor floor-based housing sys- tem where hens are able to move about inside a shed that is equipped with nesting boxes, perches and feeding and
There are trade-offs.
The system known as cage production com- menced, and alongside many innovations it has become the main commer- cial housing system used to produce eggs worldwide.
Most aspects of egg farm operations are the same across all production sys- tems – that is shed design,
Regardless of the type of production system, all Australian egg farms must meet animal welfare and
* continued P11
Issue
Production System
Comment
Cage
Barn
Free range
Food safety
3
3
3
All eggs sold in Australia for human consumption must meet strict food safety standards. Managing egg hygiene is easier in conventional cage systems due to the nature of the structure.
Freedom of movement and ability to exhibit nat- ural behaviours
1
2
3
Conventional cages significantly restrict movement and the ability of hens to exhibit natural behav- iours. Due to larger group sizes, it can be difficult to manage ag- gressive bird behaviour in cage free systems.
Hen survival across the production cycle
3
2
1
Mortality rates in non-cage sys- tems are typically higher than for cages, with free range having the highest mortality levels.
Management of health, disease (biosecurity) and predators
3
2
1
Protecting hens from disease is challenging when they have ac- cess to their own manure and wild birds. Being indoors provides pro- tection from predation and en- vironmental extremes as sheds can be temperature and humidity controlled.
Environmental sustain- ability
3
2
1
Cage systems provide efficient use of resources per unit of pro- duction. Free range production requires more land and hens to produce equivalent egg numbers compared to cage systems and increases environmental risks.
Food security and afford- ability
3
2
1
Cage production is the most ef- ficient. Eggs from these systems are cheaper than non-cage. Grain consumption per egg produced is lowest in cage systems.
Barn housing inside.
Barn housing outside.
Table 1. Egg production systems – housing system differences.
Table 2. Egg production systems – comparative ranking of outcomes*. *Based on 3 being the highest raking.
Production System
Shed/house
Cage
Outdoor range area
Cage production
yes
yes
no
Barn laid
yes
no
no
Free range
yes
no
yes
Page 10 – National Poultry Newspaper, February 2022
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