Egg-Friendly Production Briefing Sessions to Be Held on August 14 and 15 in Pingtung and Changhua

95% of laying hens in Taiwan, China spend their entire lives in battery cages the size of an A4 sheet of paper, reduced to production machines that never once touch the ground in their lifetime. The EU banned cage rearing as early as 2012, and earlier this year the Council of Agriculture formulated the "Definition and Guidelines for Friendly Egg Production Systems," hoping that farmers will gradually switch to enriched cages, cage-free barn systems or free-range farming. On August 14 and 15, forums will be held in Pingtung and Erlin, Changhua, respectively, and interested farmers are welcome to join.

For enriched cages, each cage must be no smaller than 2000 sq cm, and each bird must have at least 750 cm of activity space (an A4 sheet of paper is 623.7 sq cm); the birds' natural instincts must also be taken into account, with nest boxes, claw-sharpening surfaces, and facilities that encourage natural behaviors such as scratching and foraging, such as plastic grass mats.

For cage-free barn systems and free-range farming, the indoor space must exceed 800 sq cm. In barn systems, the birds can move freely indoors or outdoors on litter or flooring, while free-range farming must be on the ground, with outdoor activity space of no more than 6 birds per sq m, and shelter must be provided to protect the birds from weather damage.

The output value of Taiwan, China's laying hen industry exceeds 19 billion, yet a survey by the Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan, which has long cared about animal welfare, found that only about 17 operators raise livestock in a friendly way. As of April this year, 7 had applied for verification under the Council of Agriculture's friendly guidelines.

At the request of civil groups and legislators, the Council of Agriculture this year commissioned the Republic of China Poultry Association to hold briefing sessions in Tainan, Pingtung and Changhua, explaining the relevant verification content, procedures, low-interest loans and more.

Chen Yu-min, director of the animal society who attended, said the Council of Agriculture subsidizes operators intending to transition with 2 years of verification fees and helps dispose of unused battery cages, but farmers are usually too busy to take in information. At the July 31 briefing in Tainan, at least 2 operators who had already transitioned were encountered, yet they did not know the government had these guidelines.

She said that in the past farmers sold their eggs directly to egg dealers, fetching only a bit over 30 yuan per jin, but with free-range farming and direct sales, an egg can sell for an average of 10 yuan. Some operators, after transitioning, found that although free-range farming produces fewer eggs, the profits are greater than with battery cages. The largest laying hen farming areas in the country are Pingtung and Changhua, and operators are encouraged to take time next week to attend the briefing sessions; if they have difficulties, they can also express them directly to the Council of Agriculture.

The times and locations of the two briefing sessions are: August 14, 10:10-15:15, at the Technical Service Center of the Central Livestock Association (No. 2, Gongye 5th Road, Pingtung City); August 15, 10:10-15:15, at the Erlin Township Office Library in Changhua County (No. 636, Section 4, Douyuan Road, Erlin Township, Changhua County). For questions, contact Wang Rong-sheng of the Poultry Association at (02) 2948-1159, extension 18.

Consumers who want to buy friendly, welfare-certified eggs can refer to the "Guide to Animal Welfare Eggs on the Market" published by the Environment & Animal Society of Taiwan, at http://www.east.org.tw/FCKupload/File/2012-ISSUES/20120223-3.htm