9/21/2023 0 Comments Caged chickens![]() ![]() Information on mortality is not systematically collated across the industry, and the very few reviews that have been conducted on the topic 7, 11, 12 have shown inconsistent results. However, whether mortality rates are higher in cage-free systems is not yet clear. While a solid understanding of the causes of death in different housing systems is required to substantiate such a claim, should it be valid, it would imply that the health and welfare of egg-laying hens could be partially compromised following transition to cage-free systems. Flock mortality rates have been considered by some experts as one of the most important indicators of health for laying hens 10, as higher death rates would be suggestive of poorer health. For example, as of March 2020, nearly 24% of all hens in the United States were raised in cage-free systems, up from 12% in 2016 and 4% in 2010 5.Īlthough cage-free facilities enable hens to move and express natural behaviours, concerns have also been raised over observations of higher mortality rates in these systems 6, 7, 8, 9. Over the last 2 decades, public attention to the welfare of laying hens is fostering a gradual transition away from conventional cage systems, with an increase in the proportion of furnished cages (which provide hens with some additional space, a nest, perch and a litter substrate) and cage-free systems in some countries, initially in the European Union (EU Directive 1999/74/EC) and subsequently beyond Europe. Our results speak against the notion that mortality is inherently higher in cage-free production and illustrate the importance of considering the degree of maturity of production systems in any investigations of farm animal health, behaviour and welfare. ![]() As management knowledge evolves and genetics are optimized, new producers transitioning to cage-free housing may experience even faster rates of decline. We show that except for conventional cages, mortality gradually drops as experience with each system builds up: since 2000, each year of experience with cage-free aviaries was associated with a 0.35–0.65% average drop in cumulative mortality, with no differences in mortality between caged and cage-free systems in more recent years. To investigate this possibility, we conducted a large meta-analysis of laying hen mortality in conventional cages, furnished cages and cage-free aviaries using data from 6040 commercial flocks and 176 million hens from 16 countries. However, although cage-free facilities enable hens to move freely and express natural behaviours, concerns have also been raised over the possibility that cage-free flocks experience higher mortality, potentially compromising some aspects of their welfare. Societal concern with the welfare of egg laying hens housed in conventional cages is fostering a transition towards cage-free systems in many countries. ![]()
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