UK postpones beak trimming ban for hens again

A ban on beak trimming of hens, which was originally foreseen in 2011 and subsequently put back to 2016, has been postponed again following expert advice that a ban would pose too high a risk to hen welfare.
Since 2010, the use of a hot blade to routinely beak trim laying hens has been banned in the UK, farming minister, George Eustice, told the House of Commons in London in reply to a written question recently. In order to prevent injurious feather pecking, use of infra-red technology only is permitted on day-old chicks.
The government established the Beak Trimming Action Group (BTAG) - comprising representatives from industry, welfare groups, retailers, the agriculture ministry (Defra), scientific and veterinary professions - to look at ways birds might be managed so that even infra-red beak trimming would no longer be necessary. Having reviewed all the available evidence, BTAG recently submitted its recommendations.
The minister reported that he has accepted all of the group’s recommendations. BTAG advised that the risks of introducing a ban on infra-red beak trimming are too great. It could result in outbreaks of severe feather pecking and having to employ emergency beak trimming using the hot blade method, which is a far worse outcome from an animal welfare perspective.
BTAG identified improved management techniques that could reduce feather pecking and the Government expects to see these techniques introduced across the laying hen sector, the minister added.
“The NFU has always said that January 2016 would have been too early to introduce a ban on beak trimming,” said National Farmers Union chief poultry adviser, Gary Ford. “We believe that a continuation is in the best welfare interests of laying hens so we are pleased that the Minister has listened to ours and the industry’s concerns.
“The NFU supports and is actively involved in ongoing industry work to better understand what the trigger points are that cause injurious feather pecking. The industry will continue its work with welfare groups, such as RSPCA and CIWF, and Defra in exploring ways in which we can work towards an industry that does not need to rely on beak trimming, but where bird welfare is not compromised,” Ford added.
Animal welfare campaigning organizations, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) have not commented publically on the Minister’s decision.

Australia study aims to optimize free-range laying hen welfare

An Australian study being carried out by Geoff Hitch at the University of New England and Dr. Caroline Lee at CSIRO will examine the influence of differing stocking densities on free-range space utilization, the welfare and productivity of laying hens, and the effect of early life interventions on adaptability of free-range laying hens to later life environmental stressors, range utilization and choice feeding.
The project will first examine three stocking densities: 2,000, 10,000 and 200,000 birds per hectare. The trial will be replicated and conducted over a six-month period (to 40 weeks of lay). The indoor stocking density of all birds will be 12 birds/m².
To assess bird welfare, the project will employ behavioral tests, record bird behaviors with video cameras and audio equipment, and monitor stress hormones in the birds. In addition, production indicators, such as feather scores, weight change during the experiment, egg production and egg quality will be measured.
The project will also examine the effect of genotype and early life interventions on adaptation, welfare and utilization of the range. In addition, the effect of range-feeding with insects on performance and nutrient intake will be examined. 
The research will build on previous work to provide scientific evidence as to whether stocking density is important to layer welfare in free-range systems. It will also examine how environmental enrichment may interact with stocking density impacts on welfare status, in and out of the shed.
“First and foremost, the benefit of this work is to ensure industry best practice for free-range systems, and secondly, the development of systems where industry can guarantee that products are produced under the best-practice range conditions,” said Hitch.
“Effects on productivity are unknown, although reduction in cannibalism, and identification of key welfare indices, could reduce mortality and morbidity enough to improve overall feed and egg production efficiency. This work should also provide some scientific data that can inform development of future policy relating to free-range management.”

US researcher receives Brazilian grant for laying hen research

Dr. Richard Gates, agricultural and biological engineering professor, University of Illinois, has been awarded a grant for special visiting researchers, Pesquisadors Visitante Especial (PVE), by the Brazilian government. The PVE program aims to attract senior foreign researchers recognized internationally as leaders in priority areas, such as engineering, technology and health sciences. Gates is one of 66 awardees this year.
Under this award, Gates will conduct projects with Brazilian research groups and is expected to visit Brazil for up to three months annually for the next three years. Gates said that his project seeks to improve the indoor environment of laying hen facilities in tropical and subtropical climates, such as Brazil. It involves the design of alternative facilities with improved insulation and mechanical ventilation and compares their operation with naturally-ventilated facilities. This study will develop guidelines for energy-efficient hybrid systems of ventilation to maintain productivity and enhance bird welfare while ensuring a safe and sustainable egg supply system.
"The research focus of our project in Brazil is to evaluate new ways to design and ventilate laying hen houses," said Gates. "We just completed a year-long study in the AWES lab, looking at the effect of areal ammonia concentration on laying hen preferences. Some of the alternative housing systems that are being developed aren't ventilated very well, and the ammonia levels can be higher than generally recommended. The AWES lab has an animal preference chamber with four environmentally controlled compartments that allow us to give the bird a clear choice among alternative conditions.
"For instance, will they tolerate high ammonia levels if it is warmer, or do they prefer cooler temperatures and low ammonia levels? That's a simple example of what preference chambers can tell us. The AWES facility will provide a training component for the students who come here, and then we'll all work together to develop a set of protocols on how to conduct preference testing."

Hillandale Farms gets permits to build in Hicksville, Ohio

Hillandale Farms can begin construction on a new egg layer production and processing farm in Hicksville, Ohio after David Daniels, director of the state Department of Agriculture, signed permits to install and operate.
The permits were finalized after a formal 30-day comment period in which the public had the opportunity to voice any concerns about the new poultry facility, the Bryan Times reported. Now that the permit has been approved, construction plans are proceeding.  No exact dates have been set, but farm managers expect the farm to be operational in the near future.
"We are grateful for the local and statewide support that we have received," said Sy Rizvi, Hillandale general manager. "Hillandale Farms has a rich history in Ohio, and Hicksville is a great location both from the standpoint of access to grain and feed and its proximity to the marketplace."
Hillandale Farms plans to start with 2 million hens. Under the Ohio Animal Care Standards, an enriched cage system will be provided, designed to enhance the well-being of the hens with a clean and protective environment, and offering flexibility for future changes in space and amenities, as well as extra space for the hens. Hillandale Farms' daily operation will require an estimated 70 acres of corn and 185 acres of soybeans per day for feed. The farm managers plan to purchase feed grains from local farmers.
This is the first new poultry farm in the state constructed under the new Ohio Livestock Care Standards law. 

New Egg Bill to be introduced soon, sources say

The Egg Bill establishes a roughly 18-year transition period where conventional cages will be phased out and hens will be housed in either enriched cages, pictured here, or in cage-free systems.

A new, slightly revised, Egg Bill is likely to be introduced to both houses of Congress in the next few weeks, according to congressional aides cited in published reports. Chad Gregory, president and CEO, United Egg Producers, would not provide a date for the expected introduction of the legislation. He said that the United Egg Producers are committed to having the legislation reintroduced in Congress and getting it passed before the end of September.
The Egg Bill (H.R. 3798 and S. 3239) was introduced into the last Congress as an amendment to the Egg Products Inspection Act. Proponents of the Egg Bill attempted to have the Egg Products Inspection Act amendment added to the Farm Bill. Work on a new Farm Bill was postponed 12 months as part of the running battle over federal fiscal matters. Congress now has until the end of September 2013 to pass a new Farm Bill.
The United Egg Producers' agreement with the Humane Society of the United States was extended until the end of September of 2013. When asked about any changes in the 2013 version of the Egg Bill versus the prior bill’s language, Gregory said, “The 2013 Egg Bill and the prior Egg Bill differ slightly. We are calling them technical corrections. All [changes] are helpful for egg farmers.”
The United Egg Producers will hold its annual Legislative Meetings May 20-22 in Washington, D.C., and members are sure to spend much of their time on Capitol Hill lobbying their representatives to support passage of the Egg Bill.

Egg producers, HSUS propose Egg Bill revisions

Chad Gregory, president and CEO, United Egg Producers, reported at the cooperative's board meeting held in conjunction with IPPE in Atlanta, that representatives from United Egg Producers, California egg producers and the Humane Society of the United States met in mid-January to look at the language of the 2012 Egg Bill and update it for 2013. He said that an agreement in principle was reached on a couple of items.
Gregory said that the requirement that ammonia levels in the layer house be kept at 25 parts per million or less was retained, but the overall language of the Egg Bill was changed so that "temporary excesses of ammonia will not constitute a violation of the act." This new agreement between United Egg Producers and HSUS will be in effect until September 30, 2013.
The United Egg Producers and HSUS worked together in an effort to secure passage of H.R. 3798, the Egg Bill, as an amendment to the Farm Bill in 2012. This effort failed, partly because the Farm Bill was never voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives.
The agreement between United Egg Producers and HSUS to seek passage of the Egg Bill was signed in July of 2011. The original expiration date for the agreement has come and gone and the agreement has already been extended a couple of times.
Researchers and primary breeders have raised the need for more exemptions from the Egg Bill. In the 2012 version of the Egg Bill, the only exemption included was for farms with fewer than 3,000 layers. In the 2013 version, Gregory said that exemptions would be added for primary breeders and research facilities.
Unfortunately, Gregory said the HSUS would not consider revising any of the dates pertaining to implementation in California, where Proposition 2 has a January 1, 2015, compliance date.

California egg farmers challenge Proposition 2 in state court

The Association of California Egg Farmers has been trying since Proposition 2’s passage four years ago to get resolution on what type of hen housing meets the law’s requirements.

The Association of California Egg Farmers filed suit on November 16, 2012, in Fresno County Superior Court asking the court to find that the language of Proposition 2 is unconstitutionally vague according to California law. The association contends that the law's lack of clarity in size and density requirements for housing laying hens prevents egg farmers from modifying their housing facilities in time to comply with the January 1, 2015, implementation date.

Prior legal challenges


Proposition 2 has already has faced two court challenges. The first unsuccessfully tried to clarify the type and dimensions of housing for hens required by the law, and the second lawsuit, filed by egg producer William Cramer, challenged Proposition 2 under the U.S. Constitution. The Cramer lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge with prejudice in September. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge John Walter wrote, "The court concludes that the Proposition 2 is not impermissibly vague in all of its applications, or even in a single application, as argued by plaintiff. Proposition 2 provides a person of ordinary intelligence more than a reasonable opportunity to know what is prohibited and provides explicit and objective standards to prevent discriminatory enforcement." The Association of California Egg Farmers tried unsuccessfully to intervene in Cramer's suit and now challenges Proposition 2 under the California Constitution. Dale Stern, attorney for the Association of California Egg Farmers, explained that the standard of proof for a void for vagueness challenge is different under the California constitution than it is under the federal constitution in some respects. “Challenging under the federal constitution on a charge of void for vagueness means you have to allege and prove that the statute is vague in all of its applications,” Stern said. “Under the California Constitution, you have to allege and prove that the statute is vague under all of its reasonable and practical applications. The burden of proof is different. In some cases it isn’t more or less; it is just different.”


Asking for clarity


Stern said that if the case survives demurrer from the state, and the Cramer case did not, he expects that the trial wouldn’t be completed until late 2013 or early 2014. Then, even if egg producers prevail, there could be an appeal from the state or another party, such as the Humane Society of the United States. He said that the Association of California Egg Farmers has been trying since Proposition 2’s passage four years ago to get resolution on what type of hen housing meets the law’s requirements. “The lawsuit is the last option,” he said.

Arnie Riebli, president of the Association of California Egg Farmers, said, "California's egg farmers have spent the last four years attempting to gain a clear understanding of how to comply with Proposition 2, but, unfortunately, we are no closer today to knowing how to comply than we were when the law first passed in 2008. Given the ambiguity in Proposition 2 and the risk of criminal prosecution for violating it, egg farmers have no choice other than to challenge the validity of the law."


The Cramer lawsuit was dismissed before the Association of California Egg Farmers was allowed to participate, and Stern said that the current lawsuit will be the Association of California Egg Farmers’ first opportunity to make their arguments in court. "With the law taking effect in just over two years, egg farmers cannot afford to wait any longer to begin construction of new hen enclosures, but their dilemma is making a multi-million dollar investment in new housing systems that could end up being considered illegal,” Stern said. “The California Attorney General has been unwilling or unable to take a position on this key point. The State Department of Food and Agriculture commissioned a study at the University of California at Davis, which concluded that the law is unclear. As a result, the Association of California Egg Farmers has no choice but to reluctantly seek invalidation of this poorly drafted proposition."


Enclosure size hinges on an assumption


Stern said that the University of California’s expert told the state Department of Food and Agriculture, “I can’t tell you because it is ambiguous, but if we assume that only one bird at a time needs to be able to perform the pirouette behavior than here is the math to figure out how much space you need.”
Stern contends that the key defect in Proposition 2’s language is the assumption that only one bird needs to be able to perform the behavior at a time. He said that the judge needs to tell the industry that the law is either ambiguous, or if the ruling is that the law is “crystal clear,” the judge needs to say what the law means. “The key ambiguity of Proposition 2 is how many birds need to be able to perform the prescribed behaviors at the same time,” Stern said.


Shipping eggs into California
When asked whether or not Proposition 2’s requirements for housing hens could be enforced on egg producers outside of California who want to sell eggs in California, Stern used the example of standards that have been set for milk sold in California. “There are dairy requirements that make it difficult for producers outside of California to send milk into the state based on food safety, health and wholesomeness,” Stern said. “That law is challenged from time to time. So far it has survived. But it is not a slam dunk each time it is challenged.” He said that he wouldn’t be surprised if sometime around January 1, 2015, an out-of-state interest tried to challenge Proposition 2’s requirements for out-of-state egg producers. Stern said that he wouldn’t predict how that legal challenge might turn out, but said that it “wouldn’t be a slam dunk either way.”
“This of course concerns the California [egg] industry,” Stern said.

Cal-Maine Foods acquiring egg production assets of Maxim Production

Cal-Maine Foods Inc. has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire the commercial egg operations of Maxim Production Co. Inc.
The assets to be purchased by Cal-Maine Foods include a feed mill and two production complexes with capacity for approximately 3.5 million laying hens with related pullet capacity, all located near Boling, Texas. In addition, the acquisition will include contract capacity for approximately 500,000 laying hens near Gonzalez, Texas. The company expects to close the transaction in November.
“Maxim Production represents an excellent addition to Cal-Maine’s operations," said Dolph Baker, chairman, president and CEO of Cal-Maine Foods. "Along with our recent acquisition of the Pilgrim’s Pride commercial egg operations, we have expanded our presence in Texas and enhanced our ability to serve our customers in this important market region. This transaction further advances our strategy to grow our business through selective acquisitions. We look forward to working together to provide outstanding service to our customers and deliver greater value to our shareholders.”

US Senate discusses egg-laying hen welfare

On July 27 a U.S. Senate committee discussed legislation to set national standards for the treatment of egg-laying hens, debating particularly how much space each hen should have in their coops, according to reports.
The proposed legislation, promoted by Senator Dianne Feinstein, would increase the size of henhouses and require egg labeling so consumers know how hens were raised. "This is a practical, fair-minded deal that solves a real problem for the egg industry," said Feinstein. Her effort to create national standards is partly the result of an initiative passed by Californians in 2008 that require that hens be able to stretch their wings and turn around in their housing. At least five other states have enacted similar rules. The legislation also takes into account a compromise reached in 2011 between the Humane Society of the United States and United Egg Producers.
The bill gives farmers 18 years to increase the size of hen cages. The measure would also outlaw the practice of depriving hens of food and water to increase egg production, set minimum air quality standards for henhouses and require that egg cartons stipulate whether eggs come from hens that are caged, cage-free, free-range or housed in enriched cages. Currently, the majority of caged hens are provided with 67 square inches of space. If the legislation passes, the hens would be given 124 to 144 square inches of space.
Groups representing beef and pork industries have come out against Feinstein's bill, and a companion bill in the House sponsored by Representative Kurt Schrader, saying that they might be the next target of federal legislation. An industry group called Egg Farmers of America is also opposed to the legislation, saying that it could drive small farmers out of business, increase consumer prices, affect other industries and lacks scientific justification.

US Senate rejects Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments

The U.S. Senate has rejected the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012 to the Farm Bill, modeled after H.R. 3798 and S. 3239, which would have required egg producers to double the living space allotted per laying hen and make other animal welfare improvements during a tiered phase-in period that would allow farmers time to make the investments in better housing, with the assurance that all would face the same requirements by the end of the phase-in period.
The amendments had bipartisan support, and were backed by both the United Egg Producers and the Humane Society of the United States. Supporters of the bill called it an opportunity to enact a national standard that would improve the lives of animals and protect family farmers and agricultural jobs. Detractors called the amendment controversial and "a direct assault upon egg laying hens', voters' and states' rights."

California Egg Farmers support national housing standard for egg-laying hens

The Association of California Egg Farmers has announced its support for the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012 introduced by U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein.
Among the bill's provisions, it would establish a national housing standard for egg-laying hens. It proposes similar requirements to a bill introduced earlier in 2012 in the House of Representatives, HR 3798, and it is jointly supported by the Humane Society of the United States and the United Egg Producers. The Egg Products Inspection Act would recognize the enriched colony system as the new national housing standard for laying hens instead of conventional cages. The enriched colony system enables hens to sit, stand, stretch and turn around in a clean, safe enclosure that protects hens from outside predators. The colony system house provides 116 square inches of space compared to 67 square inches of space in a conventional cage.
"Passing the Egg Products Inspection Act would be a historic improvement for hundreds of millions of animals per year," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. "It is always our greatest hope to find common ground and to forge solutions, even with traditional adversaries. We hope Congress seizes the opportunity to embrace this legislative collaboration and mutual understanding."

Europe facing egg shortages after welfare rules implementation

The Union for the Belgian Egg Products Industry has said that egg processors are finding it difficult to survive since the implementation of the EU's new welfare regulations for laying hens at the beginning of the year. The union says that the regulations have meant that many producers have ceased production or are trying to adapt to the new rules. Cold weather has resulted in increased demand for eggs, further compounding the problem. The combination of these factors has resulted in a situation where egg producers cannot satisfy demand and processors are having difficulties in supplying the contracted quantities as they cannot source enough eggs, according to the union. The scarcity of eggs has resulted in a rapid increase in prices, making the situation financially unbearable for processors. Additionally, there are reports that cake producers in France are warning that they may go out of business due an inability to source sufficient supplies, while in the UK consumers are being warned that the price of eggs is due to rise sharply.

US laying hen welfare bill introduced

The United Egg Producers board meeting was held in conjunction with the 2012 International Poultry Expo in Atlanta in January.

Gene Gregory, president, United Egg Producers, announced the introduction of legislation that would codify the laying hen welfare agreement between the Humane Society of the United States and the United Egg Producers. The announcement was made at the United Egg Producers board meeting, held in conjunction with the 2012 International Poultry Expo in Atlanta in January.

The proposed legislation, H.R. 3798, or the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012, is cosponsored in the House of Representatives by representatives, Kert Schrader, D-Ore., Jeff Denham, R-Calif., Elton Gallegly, R-Calif., and Sam Farr, D-Calif. “Eggs are a national commodity, and egg producers should have a level playing field – not have different, costly rules in all 50 states,” said Gregory. “That’s where we are heading if we don’t pass this federal legislation. We need this legislation for our customers and consumers and the survival of egg farmers.” The Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012, would:

• require conventional cages to be replaced during an ample phase-in period with new, enriched colony housing systems that provide all egg-laying hens nearly double the amount of current space;
• require that, after a phase-in period, all egg-laying hens be provided with environmental enrichments, such as perches, nesting boxes and scratching areas that will allow hens to express natural behaviors;
• require labeling on all egg cartons nationwide to inform consumers of the method used to produce the eggs - "eggs from caged hens," "eggs from hens in enriched cages," "eggs from cage-free hens," and "eggs from free-range hens";
• prohibit feed- or water-withdrawal molting to extend the laying cycle, a practice already prohibited by the United Egg Producers Certified program;
• require standards approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association for euthanasia of egg-laying hens;
• prohibit excessive ammonia levels in henhouses; and
• prohibit the transport and sale of eggs and egg products nationwide that don't meet these requirements.

Companies propose poultry litter fueled facility

Perdue AgriBusiness Inc. and Fibrowatt LLC recently submitted a proposal for Maryland’s Clean Bay Power Project that calls for constructing a boiler operation that runs off of poultry litter, according to a report. The proposed facility at the Perdue AgriBusiness Zion Church Road complex will provide 10 megawatts of electricity to the state as well as up to 70,000 pounds per hour of steam to the Perdue complex. The main fuel sources will be poultry litter and layer hen manure, among other local biomass. Perdue AgriBusiness, a direct exporter of U.S. agricultural commodities, is the largest buyer of poultry litter in Maryland, while Fibrowatt specializes in developing and operating poultry-litter-fueled power plants in the UK and in the U.S. 

Ireland egg producers supported with new welfare booklet

Caring for the welfare of laying hens will now be easier for farmers in the Republic of Ireland following the launch of a new booklet called Code of Practice for the Welfare of Laying Hens.
Produced by the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council, the booklet was officially launched by Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in late September. The booklet’s aim is to encourage all those who care for laying hens to adopt the highest standards when dealing with hens and provides practical guidance in respect of the management and husbandry of laying hens. It incorporates new rules on welfare standards that are due to come into force in 2012. “My department is committed to working with poultry producers and the industry to ensure that the new regulations prohibiting the keeping of laying hens in conventional cages from Jan. 1, 2012, are complied with in full,” said Simon Coveney, minister for agriculture, food and the marine.

Bangladesh breeds new layer chicken

The Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute has developed a variety of layer chicken, named Shubhra, bred to reduce dependence on layer imports.
The new breed can lay eggs within 19 weeks and has an annual laying capacity of 280-295 eggs. The chicken was bred for disease resistance in the local environment, according to BLRI officials.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged scientists to continue their development efforts in the poultry and dairy industries to address the country's shortage of meat and protein.

UK government department favors ban on non-welfare compliant eggs

The UK government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has recommended a clampdown on illegal eggs and egg products before 2012.
The select committee has published recommendations following its enquiry on the implications of the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive for the egg industry.
It found that the UK egg industry will be at a competitive disadvantage if non-compliant conventional cage producers in other EU member states are able to export shell eggs and egg products after January 1, 2012, when enriched colony cages will be a statutory minimum across Europe.
The UK’s National Farmers' Union has continually raised concerns that farmers in several member states will have failed to upgrade their cages in time, and has lobbied for an intra-community trade ban. The DEFRA committee has criticized the European Commission’s complacency over the level of compliance with the directive and has supported calls for an intra-community trade ban on the export of shell eggs and egg products from non-compliant producers.
NFU board chairman Charles Bourns said: “British egg farmers have spent around GBP400 million (US$648 million) on upgrading their farms to meet these new standards and there is a real threat that all this effort could be for nothing if they run the risk of being undercut by cheap imports from countries which are still producing eggs in lower welfare systems. We will continue to work with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and to lobby the Commission to ensure this does not happen.”

Possible EU cage ban delay condemned by welfare group

The suggestion that Belgian egg farmers may be allowed more time to comply with the upcoming EU cage ban has been condemned by animal welfare organization Eurogroup for Animals.
The possibility emerged when, in answer to a parliamentary question, a Belgian Minister suggested that she could grant producers who have not changed to another cage system by the January 2012 deadline a six-month extension. “We have called on the European Commission, together with our Belgian member GAIA, to ensure that Belgium is stopped and ordered to conform," said Director of Eurogroup Sonja van Tichelin. Commissioner [for Health and Consumer Affairs John] Dalli has repeatedly stated that there will be no postponement or exemption."

US organic layers produce 25.8 million eggs weekly

A U.S. layer flock of an estimated 5 million hens produces roughly 71,701 30-dozen cases of organic eggs (25.8 million individual eggs) each week, according to a new weekly report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The estimated lay rate of the hens is 73.8%, according to the report. For the week of June 27, 9,600 30-dozen cases of organic large eggs were in U.S. stocks, while 7,700 30-dozen cases of ungraded eggs were in stock.
Organic poultry slaughtered under federal inspection in the week ending June 25 reached 451.06 million head of chicken (at an average live weight of 5.82 pounds) and 6.53 million head of turkey (at an average live weight of 24.57 pounds). These numbers are up slightly from the previous week but remain significantly lower than the peak week ending May 28.

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

$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.

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. Information generated by the research, which will focus on conventional cage housing, enriched cage housing and a cage-free aviary system, is expected to help egg purchasers and producers make objective, science-based decisions as the egg industry evolves in response to consumer needs and desires.
“Our goal is to thoroughly understand the full range of sustainability factors," said Dr. Janice Swanson, director of animal welfare and professor of animal science at Michigan State University. "This multi-year study will examine seasonal shifts, bird lifecycles, bird health and behavior, environmental impacts, human health and other factors affecting the sustainability of the egg production system.” Additional cooperating research institutions include Iowa State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service.