Hen Housing Systems: Page 22

Layer housing research facility needs more funding

The proposed laying hen alternative-housing research center at Michigan State University is inching closer to reality, but more money still needs to be raised by the layer industry, according to Dr. Darrin Karcher, poultry extension specialist at Michigan State. Equipment vendors have committed to provide the housing systems, including the feeding and watering systems, but it is up to the layer industry to commit the funds for construction of the 33,000 square foot building.

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Making the case for enriched colony housing for layers

Involved with the United Egg Producers' Animal Welfare Advisory Committee from its inception in 1998 until a few months ago, Dr. Jeffrey D. Armstrong, president, California Polytechnic State University, defended the UEP’s welfare agreement with the Humane Society of the United States at the cooperative’s executive conference in Tucson. Armstrong, who also serves as an advisor to McDonald’s Corporation on matters involving animal welfare and corporate social responsibility, said that national standards for laying hen welfare make sense for both the egg industry and consumers.

Dr. Jeffrey Armstrong said, “The industry is at a key tipping point just as it was before science based animal welfare guidelines were adopted.”

Layer housing agreement: a win-win deal?

I wasn’t at the press conference in Washington, D.C., where the agreement between the Humane Society of the United States and the United Egg Producers to move layers out of traditional cages and into enriched colony cages was announced. But, I was listening to Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO, HSUS, Bob Krouse, chairman of UEP, and Gene Gregory, president and CEO, UEP, over the telephone, and they all seemed to be singing from the same hymnal.

Hen Housing Systems

US egg coalition awards $6 million for hen house sustainability research

The Coalition for Sustainable Egg Supply has awarded $6 million to support research on the sustainability of laying hen housing in the U.S. Michigan State University and the University of California, Davis, will participate in the three-year “CSES Laying Hen Housing Research Project,” which will explore the interactions and tradeoffs among food safety, worker safety, environmental impact, hen health and welfare and food affordability aspects of three different housing systems.

$6 million has been awarded to a three-year project focusing on comparing conventional cage housing, enriched cage housing and a cage-free aviary system for laying hens.

Hen Housing Systems

Egg Farmers of Canada appoints new chair in poultry welfare

Egg Farmers of Canada has appointed University of Guelph professor Tina Widowski as its new chair in poultry welfare. In her new role, Widowski will collaborate with researchers on laying hen welfare and egg production, including enriched and aviary systems.

Hen Housing Systems

FastFacts: Housing for Europe’s layers

Under the terms of Council Directive 1999/74/EC, conventional cages will be banned as housing for laying hens in European Union countries as of Jan. 1, 2012. After that date the only cage systems permitted for EU layers will be of enriched types providing more space per bird.

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Hen Housing Systems

USPOULTRY donates $25,000 to egg, hen research facility

The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association is donating $25,000 to the Michigan State University’s new egg-laying hen research facility. The new MSU facility will provide housing and rooms to conduct research on hens in conventional cages, cage-free aviary and enriched colony stages.

Hen Housing Systems

The impact of welfare

Decisions made in 2011 will influence production techniques, marketing and profitability

Hens housed in a Facco EVO enriched cage module complying with EU requirements

Hen Housing Systems

UK egg producers demand level playing field

The U.K. government has made an official representation to the European Commission to prevent the export of eggs from other European Union countries to the U.K. that do not comply with EU housing standards. The EU has banned conventional cages, effective 2012, although enriched cages, free range and organic systems are approved.

Hen housing systems and egg safety

As the debate over housing for layers and egg safety continues, the Poultry Science Association (PSA) has put its weight behind those calling for the need for further research. This comes as international pressure grows on the egg industry to shift from conventional cages to non-cage housing systems for layers.

The EU’s proposed ban on conventional cages is set to take effect in 2012.

Breeding/genetics

Fienhage GmbH aviary systems

Hen Housing Systems

Farmer Boy to offer Potters Poultry products

Potters Poultry has appointed Farmer Boy Ag Systems as its product distributor in the Northeastern U.S. The move follows growing interest for the UK manufacturers’ automatic nests and aviary systems.

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