The Implications of The Welfare of Laying Hens Directive for the Egg Industry
Written evidence submitted by Dr A (Lou) Marsden. (EGG 03)
Effects on Bird Welfare.
The effects of this legislation is catastrophic in terms of animal welfare insofar as the amount of suffering by hens in the whole EU is increasing, which is contrary to what was expected by those responsible. This statement is based on the increased mortality associated with the move to free range and organic systems. Published figures for mortality over one laying cycle are:-
Traditional Cage Free Range Free Range Organic
National Farmers’ Union 5% 8%
British Free Range Egg Producers 7% 8%
Association
As designer of the ADAS "Eggcheque" budgeting and monitoring Program in the late eighties, I have good reason to doubt the free range and organic figures, where recorded mortality does not match the difference between birds started and birds counted on disposal. The large number articles on veterinary subjects and treatments for named ground borne parasites in "The Ranger" suggests that there are serious problems in addition to feather pecking and cannibalism. Since peck order was virtually eliminated in the conventional small cages, there was no need for beak trimming. My conversations with free range producers suggests that few are obtaining consistent performance data. Assuming that there are some 14 million birds on free range and organic systems with an increased mortality of £3% over conventional cages, the change to free range is causing an extra 420,000 birds to die each year. Since most of the mortality follows a period in which the birds can be seen to be suffering. My personal estimate is that somewhere close to one million birds per year are suffering from disease though many do not actually die. This would account for the lower price being paid by hen processors for free range hens.
Effect of Market Price Fluctuations.
It is very difficult to apportion egg price changes as due to the "cage ban", food price movements (including GM or non-GM) and the general difficult financial situation. On balance I consider free range bird numbers have increased too quickly on the expectation of high prices generated by celebrity chefs. I noted irresponsible optimism at BFREPRA AGM in 2009 followed by worrying levels of pessimism in 2010. A number of new free range producers had been forced out of milk production a year or two earlier, some may well go bankrupt in eggs.
The new furnished cage units appear to be thriving, though they experience little media comment. Many of these had moved from free range, or deep litter, to conventional cages several years ago. They were not willing to return to free range, because they do not accept it as a welfare friendly system. Because of their generally better egg quality, one should expect them to expand in the near future. Tesco appear to call their eggs (our best selling line).
What will happen on January 1st 2012?
Political decisions based on ill-informed public opinion have a habit of not going according to plan. It appears likely that UK producers will be close to compliance by January 2012. Some conventional cage producers will carry on till that date and then say What the Hell, I’m retiring. Had they been younger the may have tried to recapitalize to furnished colonies, but have no confidence in EU Commission or DEFRA.
If eggs from conventional cages are unmarketable on January 1st 2012, there will be trouble in other EU states, which cannot meet the deadline.
If EU relent and allow inter -state trade, the English egg producers of all types will suffer, with some free range producers actually going bankrupt.
Should there be a shortage of eggs in UK, and no inter-state trade, WTO may be upset, because they do not recognize EU welfare standards as reason for restriction of trade. My opinion is that there will be no shortage of eggs. Furnished cages will expand subject to manufacturing capacity (Unfortunately not in UK ). Free range may have slight overproduction and low prices. "Organic" and "Barn Egg" systems will almost disappear.
Sorry for this rushed response to a note in Poultry World received today and my entering hospital for cataract surgery on 4Th February. I expect to be available at the address below from 6th February.
February 2011
Annex
First contact with twin bird cages 1950. From 1953 at Reading University till 1978, Manager of Poultry Research Unit, Much research on cages resulting in 3-4 bird colonies accepted by over 90% of UK producers and consumers,
1978 ADAS Poultry Adviser, Humberside.
1983-91 ADAS Poultry Adviser, Cheshire, North Staffs, North Derbys,
Founder Committee member, British Egg Association
Member British Poultry Federation Health & Technical Committee
Former Member & Examiner National Poultry Diploma Board
Former ex officio vice chair Thames Valley Egg Producers Association.
1986-7, Designed :-"Eggcheque", program for ADAS clients.
1987-91 one of 3 ADAS members running EGGLAB, measuring egg Quality
1954-2011 Member of Worlds Poultry Science Association.
I spent a whole career in the Poultry Industry, but never owned a bird or received any bonuses, to avoid accusations of greed. During the late fifties and early sixties many farmers entered the cage industry in UK and abroad including Russia as a result of my advice. Because of the reduction in mortality everyone was prepared to accept the conventional cage. I helped design a beak trimming machine, primarily for deep litter systems and stopped using in cage systems around 1970, because we had solved the feather pecking problem in cages.
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