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"Cracking" into the debate about laying hen housing.
C Bir1, N M Thompson1, W E Tyner1
1Dept. of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, 403 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, 765-494-2567.
Poultry Science
|February 21, 2018
Summary
Adding perches to standard laying hen cages may be profitable for egg producers. This cost-benefit analysis suggests potential revenue increases after feed costs, supporting perch installation and maintenance.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Agricultural Economics
- Poultry Husbandry
Background:
- Growing social and regulatory pressures impact livestock production, particularly concerning animal welfare in the laying hen industry.
- Traditional cage systems for laying hens are being re-evaluated for their economic viability and welfare implications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the economic feasibility of incorporating perches into standard laying hen cages.
- To compare the cost-benefit analysis of three different housing systems: standard cages, cages with standard perches, and cages with cooled perches.
Main Methods:
- Experimental data collection on laying hen housing systems.
- Cost-benefit analysis focusing on revenue minus feed costs for each system.
- Evaluation of the financial implications of installing and maintaining perches.
Main Results:
- Operators may achieve revenue above feed costs with perch-equipped cages.
- The profitability of incorporating standard or cooled perches is dependent on final system costs.
- Egg producers can potentially utilize caged housing with perches profitably.
Conclusions:
- Incorporating perches into caged laying hen systems presents a potentially profitable option for producers.
- Economic viability is linked to the initial investment and ongoing maintenance costs of perch systems.
- This approach offers a way to address animal welfare concerns within existing regulatory frameworks.