Page 9 - National Poultry Newspaper

Harry Rumpler Lenard’s new CEO
Egg labelling
* from P8
an idyllic country life for hens.
lowed.
There is no require-
However, they are sim- ply alternative labels for cage eggs from conven- tional cage systems or furnished cage systems.
ment by law for free range farms to be au- dited to ensure they are adhering to the legal minimums.
Furnished cages pro- vide more space and some enrichment for lay- er hens, however no cage system can fully cater for a hen’s physical and behavioural needs.
Even on free range farms, hens may still spend most of their time indoors, therefore the quality of the indoor en- vironment is as impor- tant if not more so, and this is often overlooked.
Cage free and barn laid eggs
This is where ask- ing the brand for more information about the housing system can be useful, or alternatively, looking for third party certification.
‘Cage-free’ and ‘barn- laid’ are different labels for essentially the same type of farming system.
Cage free and barn laid eggs are from hens that are kept in large sheds with room to move around and nest boxes in which to lay their eggs.
Other labels that you might see on free range eggs are certified organ- ic – hens raised on an organic diet free from chemicals and antibiot- ics with access to out- door areas, certified by an organic certification program.
In these large sheds, hens can move on the floor or venture up and down via different lev- els – aviary or multi-tier systems.
And pasture raised – hens with access to pas- tures and living in small caravans that are moved about the paddock.
Not all sheds have en- richment or quality lit- ter, which is why it’s important to ask your favourite egg brand how the hens are kept inside the shed or look for a reputable third-party certification with de- tailed publicly available standards that describes the housing system – such as RSPCA Ap- proved.
Finally, some common phrases are popping up on egg cartons such as ‘natural living’, ‘farm fresh’, ‘no de-beaking’ and ‘Australian grown’ – which give the illusion of eggs coming from a different type of farm- ing system.
A well-managed shed system is a good alterna- tive to a cage system and provides hens with add- ed protection from the elements, predators and disease transmission.
These are buzzwords and not indicative of how the hen lived or the conditions on farm.
Free range eggs
All whole eggs sold in cartons in Australia are laid in Australia and layer hens are not de- beaked – that is, have their whole beak re- moved – in any system, though beak trimming or removing the tip of the beak to control se- vere feather pecking is allowed
Hens in free range sys- tems are provided with access to outdoor areas during daylight hours – weather permitting – and spend their nights in sheds with nest boxes in which to lay their eggs in the morning.
When it comes to good farm animal welfare, egg buyers are influ- ential with the choices they make.
The free range label is often interpreted to be the best option for wel- fare, but it’s important to note that having out- door access alone is not a conclusive indicator of good welfare.
Each purchase of an animal product is a vote for the system that pro- duced it.
A good free range out- door area should have vegetation for foraging and plenty of shelter to encourage hens to feel protected and venture outside, however there is no legal requirement for these to be provided.
Your choices matter and you have the power to speak up for layer hens when you purchase higher welfare eggs such as cage free, free range and RSPCA Ap- proved and help support Aussie farmers in giving curious and clucky hens a good life.
Outdoor stocking den- sities of up to 10,000 birds per hectare are al-
Purchase higher welfare eggs such as cage free, free range and RSPCA Approved and help sup- port Aussie farmers in giving curious and clucky hens a good life.
HARRY Rumpler has been appointed chief executive officer at Le- nard’s.
“Harry has demonstrated exceptional leadership and delivered strong results in the short time he has been onboard that have had an immediate positive impact on the business.
Lenard’s commenced operations as a food fran- chisor in 1987 in Sunny- bank Hills, Brisbane.
Made with 100 percent Australian healthy shed- raised chickens with no added hormones or ster- oids, Lenard’s is proudly Australian-owned.
independent supermarkets throughout Australia.
Formerly chief operating officer at the successful Australian poultry busi- ness, Mr Rumpler has re- placed Lenard’s founder and director, Lenard Poulter, who will continue to remain in the business looking at various oppor- tunities.
“We cannot be more ex- cited to have Harry on- board in his new role”.
Founded by owner Le- nard Poulter, Lenard’s handmade chicken prod- ucts utilise premium, lo- cally sourced and natu- rally delicious ingredients.
A leader in the fresh food marketplace, Lenard’s can be found at 25 locally owned stores and 2000
With a recently launched ‘hub and spoke’ model and range of pre-cooked meals, the business’ reach contin- ues to grow – providing customers with the classics they know and love.
Mr Rumpler said, “After several months in the busi- ness as COO, I have been working within the busi- ness, gaining an under- standing of the different areas and implementing new strategies.”
For more information, visit lenards.com.au
Mr Rumpler joined the Lenard's team in January 2022, working previously in many roles including CEO of IGA Fresh (Met- cash), business advisor to CSIRO, as well as other advisory board appoint- ments.
“I am excited about the opportunities ahead of us here at Lenard’s, and with the team, we are all look- ing very positively, both within retail and franchise networks moving forward.
Mr Poulter said, “This is certainly the next step for Lenard’s, and we are extremely excited about Harry’s appointment and commitment to his new role.”
“We have a great mix of experience and new team members and with this, new ideas and prospect are being worked on.”
Owner and former CEO Lenard Poulter will continue to remain in the business looking at various oppor- tunities.
Lenard’s
executive officer Harry Rumpler.
new chief
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National Poultry Newspaper, August 2022 – Page 9