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Nearly 20% of egg farmers raise ducks in cages, criticized as bloody; the "Duck Egg King": abolishing cages is an international trend

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Nearly 20% of egg farmers raise ducks in cages, animal society criticizes "bloody duck eggs," the "Duck Egg King": abolishing cages is an international trend

The Taiwan Animal Society Research Association held a press conference today (the 10th), naming certain operators who use cage-based farming for laying ducks, which not only violates animal welfare but is an even more cruel torture for waterfowl.

The Republic of China Duck Raising Association stated that the current proportion of caged laying ducks is about 15%, and that "floor rearing" is still the mainstream; it directly criticized animal protection groups for not damaging the reputation of the entire industry under the name of "bloody duck eggs." It also emphasized that caging is indeed helpful in improving management efficiency, and that operators' choices should be respected.

A scholar stated that domestic floor-reared laying ducks have already developed very maturely, and farmers have rich management experience, so "we should not go back down the road of caging!" The largest domestic duck egg exporter, Hong Liang Foods, also pointed out that consumers are placing increasing importance on animal welfare products, and that if the industry wants to develop export strength, it must align with the international "cage-free" trend in order to safeguard animal welfare and upgrade the industry.

In response, the Council of Agriculture replied that since year 104 of the Republic of China it has been providing guidance to non-open-style floor-reared laying duck farms, and that it will continue to promote the floor-rearing model in the future. For the few remaining caged laying duck farms, the authorities will organize a guidance team to strengthen industry communication and assistance.

A small number of egg farmers use cages to produce duck eggs; animal society criticizes: violates waterfowl nature, and is "bloody duck eggs"

Mooncakes, indispensable for Mid-Autumn Festival reunions and gift-giving, are filled with domestic salted egg yolks, fragrant and delicious. However, according to survey data from the Taiwan Animal Society Research Association (abbreviated as the "Animal Society"), about 15-20% of domestic laying ducks are raised in cages. In layer upon layer of battery cages, each cage of about A4 paper size is stuffed with two to three ducks, leaving the flock, which badly needs water bathing and preening, completely unable to access open water sources. Their webbed feet can only tread and rub against the dry, rusted cage floor all day, which may even cause excessive cracking and bleeding.

Animal Society Deputy Chief Executive Chen Yumin said that ducks have webbing, with skin membranes connecting the three front toes on each foot to help them move forward in water; ducks also have broad, flat chests and abdomens and oil-secreting tails, and when they play in water they squeeze out the oil and spread it over all their feathers, so that the feathers can enter water without getting wet. "These features are closely related to ducks' long-term adaptation to life in water. Water is a duck's second life. In water they preen, dip their heads into the water, rub their wings, shake, and perform other natural behaviors." She believes that caged ducks not only fail to meet animal welfare standards but also pose a threat to ducks' life and health.

Caged laying ducks have a narrow activity space and cannot play in water or preen. (Provided by Animal Society)
The webbed feet of laying ducks rub against the dry, rusted cage floor all day, causing excessive cracking and bleeding. (Provided by Animal Society)

In the survey footage released by the Animal Society, many laying ducks can be seen with clumped, filthy feathers, and even red, swollen wounds. Chen Yumin pointed out that according to research by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), when ducks cannot bathe in water, their beaks, eyes, and noses cannot stay clean, which easily increases the risk of infection. Combined with the narrow caged space, waterfowl laying ducks must endure severe suffering such as heat stress, making it difficult to produce high-quality, healthy livestock and poultry products.

The Animal Society emphasized that Taiwan's duck egg industry has gradually shown export strength in recent years and should not run counter to the global "cage-free trend." "Internationally, battery cages are gradually being phased out. Taiwan's laying ducks and laying hens should both keep up." It called on the Council of Agriculture to establish "friendly duck production standards," guide the few caged laying duck farms to transition, set a sunset clause, and at the same time prohibit any new battery cages, so as to upgrade the overall industry.

Duck Raising Association: four major advantages of caged laying ducks, convenient management

Republic of China Duck Raising Association Chairman Chen Zicheng said that the current proportion of caged laying ducks is about 15%, mainly concentrated in Changhua. He pointed out that using battery cages has four main advantages. First, the environment is indoors, making it easier to achieve a non-open style and reduce contact between the flock and migratory birds. Second, caged farming can isolate the flock from manure and, by blocking contact with the ground, avoid coccidiosis and parasite problems, reducing disease occurrence and the need for medication. "Waterfowl have a pecking habit. If one duck gets sick, its droppings will contain viruses and bacteria. If other ducks peck at them, cross-infection may occur, and the ducks easily get sick."

The third consideration is that Taiwan is small and densely populated, with limited rearing area, so caging can improve land use efficiency. The fourth is reducing the burden on managers. "With floor rearing, egg farmers have to get up at 4 a.m. every day to collect eggs, their time is tied down, and they cannot expand into scaled, corporate operations. Cages are easier to manage." Regarding animal protection groups naming caging as a violation of waterfowl laying ducks' nature, he believes that the laying ducks currently farmed are economic animals and have already been domesticated, not wild birds caught and raised directly, so he does not agree with the claim of "violating nature."

Caged laying ducks (photo by Lin Peijun)

Duck Raising Association Secretary-General Li Hongzhong also pointed out that caged laying ducks, because they have reduced contact with external environmental and animal pollution sources, are relatively healthier. "Standards of animal welfare are a matter of opinion. Take the world's largest duck-raising country, China, as an example. In the northern region, ponds freeze in winter, and operators likewise have to raise ducks indoors. Waterfowl do not necessarily have to have water; it should be adapted to local conditions." He also emphasized that caging equipment costs more, and not every egg farmer is willing to invest in it. In recent years, the rise in the proportion of caging is related to increased export demand. "Because demand has increased and supply must increase, there is a need to improve management efficiency. Farmers will weigh the benefits themselves, and operators' choices should be respected."

The Duck Raising Association reiterated that the laying duck industry is still mainly "floor rearing," and directly criticized animal protection groups for not damaging the entire industry under the name of "bloody duck eggs." It also emphasized that although demand for duck eggs surges every year during the Dragon Boat Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, in fact each egg yolk only rises by 5 mao, and the annual purchase price of duck eggs also rises and falls. It hopes that civil groups' demands regarding industry operations will not harm the efforts of duck egg farmers or damage the industry's reputation.

Council of Agriculture: caging is a minority rearing model, accounting for only 15%

According to statistics from the Council of Agriculture, Taiwan raises a total of 2.16 million laying ducks, mainly concentrated in Pingtung (45%), Changhua (31%), and Tainan (10%). Each year they can supply 400-500 million duck eggs, about 80% of which are made into preserved eggs, salted eggs, and other processed uses.

In response, Hsieh Yaoqing, director of the Council of Agriculture's Department of Animal Industry, said that there are currently more than 400 laying duck farms in Taiwan, of which about 60 are caged, accounting for 15%. "It is only a minority rearing model, not the mainstream!" He pointed out that since year 104 of the Republic of China, the Council of Agriculture has provided guidance to non-open-style floor-reared laying duck farms, and will continue to promote the floor-rearing model in the future. For the few remaining caged laying duck farms, the authorities will also organize a guidance team to strengthen industry communication and assistance.

Regarding the Duck Raising Association's claim that caging can better achieve "disease prevention" and "improve land efficiency," Wang Zhongshu, deputy director of the Department of Animal Industry, pointed out that the key is to avoid open-style farming. Operators should build sheds themselves so that duck houses are sheltered, block migratory birds, and prevent feed from being contaminated, especially during the period after autumn and winter when avian influenza is prone to occur, when open-air farming should not be adopted. "But this has nothing to do with whether they are put in cages. It is not saying that if operators are told to adopt a non-open style, they must use cages."

The Animal Society also pointed out that, taking floor-reared laying hens as an example, floor rearing can be concentrated in one high-rise building with layer upon layer of rearing, and improving land use efficiency does not require shutting laying ducks in cages.

Scholar: ducks just like water; floor-reared duck farms meet ducks' physiological needs

"A duck's physiological habits are to like water and need water!" Chen Zhifeng, a distinguished professor in the Department of Animal Science at National Chung Hsing University and a poultry science expert, said that waterfowl are somewhat different from poultry. Ducks mostly defecate by "spraying," and humidity is also higher. If caged farming is adopted, manure cleaning is relatively difficult, which may lead to accumulated manure and urine and fly infestations. In addition, the physiological need of waterfowl is to come into contact with water. "Playing in water can relieve their heat stress and also has a cooling function. At the same time, water allows ducks to groom their feathers, achieving cleaning and protection." Cage rearing may make it difficult for ducks to regulate temperature, deprive them of physiological needs, and cause a higher loss rate.

In the cases of floor-reared laying duck farms he has guided, he also teaches egg farmers how to build flowing splash pools and install separation ditches or raised-bed equipment in the houses, so that the flock's droppings can be properly concentrated and will not pollute the pools. He emphasized that domestic floor-reared laying ducks have already developed very maturely and farmers are experienced, so "we should not go back down the road of caging!"

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