scholarly journals The Influence of Housing for Laying Hens on the Economics of Egg Production

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Ondrašovičová ◽  
Katarína Veszelits Laktičová ◽  
Mária Vargová ◽  
František Zigo
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Healthy Food ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Stable Production ◽  
Industry Sustainability

The poultry sector plays an important role in animal production in terms of maintaining a stable production of healthy food for the population. With regard to the egg industry, sustainability refers to the treatment of laying hens and especially the systems used for hen housing. The conditions of welfare and housing of laying hens in the production of table eggs are currently of interest to most egg sellers as well as consumers as they directly affect the economy of their production and their price. At present, consumers have a choice of four types of eggs on the shelves. They can come from the cage, litter, free-range or organic farming. Each farm has well-defined rules that it must follow. Customers are increasingly interested in where and under what circumstances are produced the eggs which they bring home from the store. In addition to price, customers look for a story behind the package and make their decisions accordingly. Although recognizing that issues such as environmental consequences, food safety, and humane treatment of hens are also important, this article focuses on the relationships between hen housing and economy and market eggs production.

scholarly journals Egg production and welfare of laying hens kept in different housing systems (conventional, enriched cage, and free range)

2016 ◽  
Vol 95 (7) ◽  
pp. 1564-1572 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Yilmaz Dikmen ◽  
A. İpek ◽  
Ü. Şahan ◽  
M. Petek ◽  
A. Sözcü
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Housing Systems

Free-range laying hens: using technology to show the dynamics and impact of hen movement

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (11) ◽  
pp. 2046
Author(s):  
I. Ruhnke ◽  
J. Boshoff ◽  
I. V. Cristiani ◽  
D. Schneider ◽  
M. Welch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radio Frequency Identification ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Frequency Identification ◽  
Under Performing ◽  
Open Floor ◽  
And Performance

Free-range laying hens are provided with the opportunity to access various structural areas, including open floor space, feed areas, water lines, next boxes, perches, aviary tiers, winter gardens and ranges. Different individual location preferences can lead to the development of hen subpopulations that are characterised by various health, welfare and performance parameters. Understanding the complexity of hen movement and hen interactions within their environment provides an opportunity to limit the disadvantages that are associated with housing in loose husbandry systems and aids in decision-making. Monitoring hen movement using modern technologies such as radio-frequency identification (RFID), optical flow patterns, image analysis and three-dimensional (3D) cameras allows the accumulation of big data for data mining, clustering and machine learning. Integrating individual-based management systems into modern flock management will not only help improve the care of under-performing hens, but also ensure that elite hens are able to use their full genetic potential, allowing an ethical, sustainable and welfare friendly egg production. This review highlights the dynamics and impact of hen movement in free-range systems, reviews existing knowledge relevant for feeding hens in non-cage systems, and outlines recent technological advances and strategies to improve the management of free-range laying hens.

scholarly journals Egg production and egg quality in free-range laying hens housed at different outdoor stocking densities

2017 ◽  
Vol 96 (9) ◽  
pp. 3128-3137 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.L.M. Campbell ◽  
C. Lee ◽  
G.N. Hinch ◽  
J.R. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Free Range

scholarly journals Multi-criteria decision-making model in the strategic planning of table egg production in the Republic of Croatia

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0105
Author(s):  
Ana Crnčan ◽  
Zoran Škrtić ◽  
Jelena Kristić ◽  
Igor Kralik ◽  
David Kranjac ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Production System ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Multi Criteria Analysis ◽  
The Republic

Until 2012, egg production in Croatia was mostly in cages, which was not in accordance with the European Union standards on the welfare of laying hens. Therefore, producers of table eggs could not continue their current practice and had to use those systems permitted in the EU member countries, such as organic, free-range, indoor or enriched cages. The aim of this study was to analyse and evaluate various systems of table-egg production using a method of multi-criteria analysis called the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Thus, the aim was to determine scientifically which production system was the favoured option for the Croatian poultry sector. According to the results, production of eggs using an indoor system for housing hens was the best option (priority 0.317). This was followed by a free-range system (priority 0.242). The third-ranked alternative egg production system was in cages (priority 0.237), while the fourth and the least acceptable alternative refers to egg production according to organic principles (priority 0.202). Based on the results of the multi-criteria analysis and respecting the worldwide trends that reflect changes in consumers’ habits and their concerns for food safety and quality, as well as their preference for local markets and local products, it is recommended that eggs be produced in an indoor system of keeping laying hens. In this sense, egg production on small farms provides the possibility of self-employment and creation of additional income to contribute towards overall economic and social development of rural areas.

scholarly journals Quantification of IgY to Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in serum from Swedish laying hens

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Wattrang ◽  
Helena Eriksson ◽  
Ann Albihn ◽  
Tina Sørensen Dalgaard
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Low Doses ◽  
Erysipelothrix Rhusiopathiae ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Housing Systems ◽  
History Of

Abstract Background Erysipelas, caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (ER), is an important emerging disease in free-range and organic egg-production. The aim of the present study was to assess if quantification of ER specific IgY titers may aid the understanding of erysipelas in commercial laying hens. The methodology was validated with sequentially collected sera from experimentally ER infected SPF-chickens and subsequently applied on sera from Swedish commercial laying hens collected during and after outbreaks of erysipelas or collected at slaughter from healthy hens housed in furnished cages, barn production or in organic production (with outdoor access). Results In experimentally infected SPF-chickens, titers to ER were significantly increased approximately one week after infection while IgY to ER in uninfected age-matched controls remained low. Also chickens infected with low doses of ER, not displaying clinical signs of disease and with low recovery of ER in blood samples showed high titers of IgY to ER. For laying hens during and after erysipelas outbreaks the majority of samples were considered positive for antibodies to ER with a large variation in levels of IgY titers to ER between individuals. For healthy laying hens at slaughter all samples were deemed positive for antibodies to ER. An influence of flock on levels of IgY titers to ER was observed for both healthy hens and hens during erysipelas outbreaks. For healthy laying hens at slaughter no influence of the housing systems included in the study, history of erysipelas outbreaks at the farm or vaccination on levels of IgY titers to ER was noticed. Conclusions Taken together, these results show that high numbers of commercial laying hens showed high IgY titers to ER, comparable to those elicited by experimental ER infection, indicating that ER or bacteria that raises antibodies that cross-react with ER are common in this environment.

scholarly journals Effect of Production Systems for Laying Hens on Hen Welfare

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 239
Author(s):  
Brian Tainika ◽  
Ahmet Şekeroğlu
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Production Capacity ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Positive Sign ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Materials Used

This review article discussed the effects of various production systems on the welfare of laying hens. The global egg production capacity has been increasing with the evolving production systems which are driven by the consumer preferences. In developed countries, the egg industry has shifted from focusing on quantity and quality of eggs to asking questions of how these eggs are produced. Animal welfare issues emphasized by consumers in these countries led to the banning of conventional cages as seen by European Union in 2012. Such legal measures have uplifted research in various alternative production systems which are thought to be animal friendly. Countries that have adjusted to alternative systems such as free range are registering an increase in the number of free range eggs which is a positive sign for an industry that is willing to adapt and move forward. However, in developing countries, conventional cages are still being used because they are fundamental to the quantity of egg production which is a success indicator of the egg industry. In addition, lack of awareness within the consumers and local producers that birds are sentient has not helped the poultry industry in such countries. However, the alternative production systems have also not fulfilled all the behavioural needs of the animals and, hen welfare issues such as keel and bone damage are common in enriched and perched systems. Also, the high prevalence of diseases and parasites are observed with significant levels in litter floor and outdoor systems an issue attributable to the direct contact between birds and soil or faces. Due to the continuing welfare issues in all laying hen production systems, it is suggested that in addition to genetic selection for traits like bone strength, reduced feather pecking, research should combine both the modification of equipment’s or materials used in each production system and environmental factors such as illumination and temperature as an alternative to improve hen welfare.

scholarly journals Effect of diatomaceous earth on parasite load, egg production, and egg quality of free-range organic laying hens

2011 ◽  
Vol 90 (7) ◽  
pp. 1416-1426 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.C. Bennett ◽  
A. Yee ◽  
Y.-J. Rhee ◽  
K.M. Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Diatomaceous Earth ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Parasite Load ◽  
Free Range

scholarly journals Guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) eggs and free range housing: A convenient alternative to laying hens’ eggs in terms of food safety?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ondřej Krunt ◽  
Lukáš Zita ◽  
Adam Kraus ◽  
Monika Okrouhlá ◽  
Darina Chodová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Guinea Fowl ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Numida Meleagris

Food Safety in Free-Range and Organic Livestock Systems: Risk Management and Responsibility

2009 ◽  
Vol 72 (12) ◽  
pp. 2629-2637 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. KIJLSTRA ◽  
B. G. MEERBURG ◽  
A. P. BOS
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Western World ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Free Range ◽  
Safety Risks ◽  
Animal Production Systems

Animal production systems that offer outdoor access to the animals have become increasingly popular in the Western world due to the growing general discontent of consumers with conventional bioindustrial farming practices. These open production systems offer improved animal welfare but may create new problems for animal health, resulting in increased food safety risks from bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections or environmental contaminants. Examples of these new problems include increased Toxoplasma gondii infections in pigs and high dioxin levels in eggs from free-range hens. In this review, the relation between positive and negative points of free-range and organic livestock production systems is discussed with reference to production in The Netherlands. We investigated how proponents of more animal welfare friendly systems deal with potential negative issues in public and whether any risk communication is used. Generally, we found that the existence of a dilemma is disputed or avoided in communication with the consumer. This avoidance could be detrimental for public trust in alternative animal production systems, should problems occur. To prevent future problems, it will be necessary to communicate about the relevant types and sources of the food safety risks to the consumers. The responsibility for protecting food safety should be properly divided among the various parties involved: producers, processors, governments, nongovernmental organizations, and consumers.

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