New poultry standards fail to pacify activists

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Published: March 9, 2006

RED DEER – American egg farms have not escaped the wrath of animal rights groups despite implementing new bird welfare standards, says a U.S. farm leader.

Gene Gregory, vice-president of United Egg Producers, told the Alberta Egg Producers annual meeting in Red Deer on Feb. 28 that livestock groups in the United States are facing many lawsuits from animal welfare groups.

Some lawsuits have been rejected while others await decisions.

“It is going to be a problem because they are going to keep challenging,” he said.

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The major challenges are coming from the Humane Society of the United States, with one case costing egg producers $100,000 so far. It has not reached the courts.

Gregory said the society has launched 85 lawsuits against animal agriculture in the U.S. It has 10 million members and is well funded and able to finance political campaigns and lobby activities to promote its beliefs. The society has filed a lawsuit in California against cage egg production and sales tax exemptions on cage equipment.

It has lobbied for legislation in Delaware to ban cages and is trying to get a ballot added to Arizona’s election this November to ban layer cages and some hog barn practices. A lawsuit was launched against the New Jersey agriculture department’s animal welfare standards.

To counter the attacks, egg producers formed an independent scientific advisory committee in 1999 to research and make recommendations for substantial changes to bird care, cages and housing systems.

The U.S. is home to 290 million layers and 98 percent of eggs are produced in cages.

The committee determined that cages are acceptable but recommended major changes to cage size, molting practices, beak trimming, handling, transportation and slaughter.

The egg producers developed a certification program to phase in the new practices by 2008. Those completing the program are allowed to attach a special label to egg cartons sold at the retail level.

Eighty percent of American egg production is now under the scheme. The price of eggs did not change.

In April 2002, producers introduced a six year phase-in program for cages. Gregory said if the larger space requirements were introduced sooner, the industry would need to get rid of 57 million birds.

“This would have caused major market disruptions and would have been a disservice to our customers,” he said.

The goal is to expand the space allowance by April 2008 to 67 sq. inches per bird for white egg Leghorn types and 76 sq. inches for brown egg hens.

The Canadian code of practice

introduced those same space standards three years ago for laying hens.

Gregory said some farms keep birds in 44 sq. inches of space each and the phase-in program is intended to give them time to design new barns and systems to provide more room.

“We know of some that are not on our program now that are still in those kind of ranges,” he said.

The certification program also includes improved air and light quality standards and guidelines for feed and drinker locations.

Guidelines on beak trimming, transportation and molting practices became effective July 1, 2002, for all flocks.

Gregory said molt research debunked the belief that birds should have food removed for 10 to 14 days to induce molting. Taking away food is unacceptable to the public, he added, so new methods to induce molting have been introduced.

Beginning in January, feed withdrawal was prohibited.

About the author

Barbara Duckworth

Barbara Duckworth

Barbara Duckworth has covered many livestock shows and conferences across the continent since 1988. Duckworth had graduated from Lethbridge College’s journalism program in 1974, later earning a degree in communications from the University of Calgary. Duckworth won many awards from the Canadian Farm Writers Association, American Agricultural Editors Association, the North American Agricultural Journalists and the International Agriculture Journalists Association.

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