Animal Welfare or Warfare: Debate over Cage or Non-Cage Eggs

United Egg Producers

Animal Welfare or Warfare:Debate over Cage or Non-Cage Eggs


• Animal agriculture is under fire• United Egg Producers Certified animal

welfare program• Science-Based Guidelines for the Science-Based Guidelines for the

Welfare of Laying HensWelfare of Laying Hens• Foodservice, retailers & consumer

benefits

Animal Welfare or Warfare: Debate over Cage or Non-Cage Eggs


Animal AgricultureIs Under Fire


Activist Groups


Activists are Advertising


Activists in the Food Industry

Activists are targeting chefs and restaurants:

• Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)• Wolfgang Puck• Red Lobster


Activists in the Food Industry

• Do the activists speak for everyone?

• Activists spread misinformation, not facts


Opposing Voices


Context is Everything for Consumers

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Animal

Car

e

Organ

ic

Brand R

eputa

tion

Health

/Nutri

tion

Portion, C

ut, Pac

kagin

g

Taste

Clean

lines

s/Saf

ety

Quality

Price


Hierarchy of Concerns

High interest/ concern(8-10)

Medium interest/ concern

(4-7)

Low interest/ concern

(1-3)

FOOD SAFETY: Assurance that the food you eat is disease-free

72 22 6

BIO-SECURITY: Assurance that farms provide adequate safeguards to ensure that the U.S. food supply is not tampered with

66 27 6

FARM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY: Assurance that farms ensure adequate safeguards for the preservation of air and water quality in their areas

52 36 12

ANIMAL WELFARE: Assurance that the food you eat comes from animals that receive proper care

44 37 19

PACKAGING: Assurance that the food I purchase is packaged in a manner that is easily recyclable

33 43 23


How Do You Balancethe Information?


United Egg ProducersCertified Animal Welfare

Program


UEP And U.S. Egg Industry

• UEP trade association with 95% of industry members

• 290 million egg-laying hens in U.S

• Per capita consumption – 255 eggs per year

• 98% of eggs produced in cages


Research

When purchasing eggs, what are consumers choosing?

13%

23%

95%

98%-- Eggs from cage production

2%--Eggs from Non-cage production

98%

2%


Why An Industry Animal Welfare Program?

• Animal activists forced their agenda upon consumers, retailers and legislators in Europe

• The European Union Directives were based more upon personal opinions or emotions than science

• EU producers, retailers and consumers had no voice in the changes

• Most EU poultry scientists did not support the directives


UEP’s Animal Welfare Mission

• Scientific approach to animal welfare guidelines• Guidelines based upon scientific research

instead of personal opinions or emotions• Guidelines that are driven by the industry rather than government mandates or legislation• Guidelines that create a level playing field for both egg producers and the marketplace (our customers)


Scientific Committee For Animal Welfare

Starting in 1999• An independent Scientific Advisory

Committee chaired by Dr. Jeff Armstrong, Dean of Agriculture & Natural Resources at Michigan State University

• Dr. Armstrong selected:– Five (5) additional university representatives– One (1) private veterinarian– Two (2) USDA – ARS representatives– One (1) member of the American Humane Association


Scientific Committee Assignment

• Review all available scientific research papers

• Visit egg production farms, cage manufacturers, breeder companies

• Consider all production systems but primarily focus upon cages

• Make recommendations for industry changes if needed

• Recommend additional research projects if needed


Respected Scientific Committee

McDonaldsBurger King

Food Marketing InstituteNational Council of Chain Restaurants

After working for UEP several members of the committee served on animal welfare committees for:


Science-Based Science-Based Guidelines for the Guidelines for the

Welfare of Laying HensWelfare of Laying Hens


• Charge to the committee A WELFARE PERSPECTIVE first and foremost!Economics, food safety, ethics, & public perception

• Measures of hen welfare Behavior Physiological stress Immune function Productivity & mortality

ProcessProcess


http://www.uepcertified.com/docs/2005_UEPanimal_welfare_guidelines.pdf


UEP Animal Husbandry Guidelines

Housing & space allowance Beak trimming Molting Handling,

transportation, & slaughter


• Space Allowance: 67 to 86 in2 of usable space/hen

• Molting Recent change – no feed withdrawal allowed Guidelines have evolved to non-fasted molts

only• Beak Trimming• Transportation/Handling & Slaughter

Specific Recommendations


Advantages of Traditional Cages

• Improved livability• More disease free• Less bird aggression & cannibalism• Less stress with smaller group sizes• Less ammonia, dust, and microorganisms• Easier bird inspection• Cleaner eggs with less

bacterial contamination• Economics


Disadvantages of Traditional Cages

• Expression of Behavior– Nesting– Dust bathing– Perching– Scratching– Wing flapping– Walking & running– Freedom of movement

• Poorer feathering • Overgrown claws

United Egg ProducersUEP Guidelines

• Dynamic– Feed restriction to induce a molt is prohibited– Feeder space – research in progress– Cage height – research in progress– Beak trimming procedures

• Continual research is needed– Behavior – Genetic selection– Interdisciplinary or systems approach

Bird welfare balanced with human health– Housing systems

Human health & bird behavior


UEP Certified Companies Must

• Implement guidelines on 100% of all company and contract houses regardless of where or how eggs are marketed

• Not co-mingle eggs from certified and non-certified farms

• File Monthly Compliance Reports• Be audited annually by an approved 3rd party


Recognition By Others

• USDA, FDA and FTC approve use of logo

• Guidelines Supported By:– FMI (Food Marketing Institute)– NCCR (National Counsel of Chain

Restaurants)– IEC (International Egg Commission)


Industry Commitment To Animal Care

• More than 200 companies with 230 million layers are committed to the program (80% of all U.S. egg-laying hens)


Challenges and Activist Campaigns


Humane Society Of the United States Campaigns

• To force restaurants, retailers and universities to only purchase eggs from cage-free producers

• Eliminate cage production

• No animal products

• Promote veganism


The Activists Challenge

• Farm Break-Ins– Created websites with distorted

messages– Distributed videos and stories

to TV stations

• Lawsuits filed• Legislation introduced


UEP’s Position

• Support the right of consumers to choose• Members produce eggs in cage, cage-free,

organic and free-range systems• That foodservice operations, retailers and

consumers should not be forced to limit their egg purchases from only cage-free systems

• Consumers should have right to purchase lowest cost egg product if that is their choice


FOODSERVICE & CONSUMER

BENEFITS


Egg Production Trends

• Specialty Eggs:• Organic• Omega 3• Brown • Cage-free• Free range

• What makes specialty eggs different?


Retail Feature Prices(as reported by USDA)

March 24, 2006 – 17,000 Retail Stores

UEP Certified and

other cage eggs = 87 cents per dozen

Cage-Free Eggs = $2.28 per dozen

Organic Eggs = $3.44 per dozen


Egg Production

Closed housing systems


UEP Certified Benefits

• Economical source of protein • Safe, quality product• Eggs purchased come from farms following strict guidelines • Farmers are audited for compliance to guidelines• Research shows that consumers prefer eggs that are produced under animal welfare guidelines • Balanced program that includes the welfare of the hens and cost of production


UEP Supports Consumer Choice

While approximately 98% of all eggs are produced in cages, we do support consumers choice of purchasing cage-free, free-range, organic or any other specialty eggs.

Many egg producers including UEP Certified companies produce eggs in all these systems.



™

Thank You

www.uepcertified.com

UEP Hotline: 404.367.2761

Documents

Animal Welfare or Warfare: Debate over Cage or Non-Cage Eggs