The Manitoba Egg Farmers marketing board has decided to
phase out of caged housing for laying hens.
All barn replacements will have to be either enriched
housing or free-range housing.
The ban on installing cages will come into effect Jan. 1,
2015. There are 170 egg-quota holders in Manitoba.
The egg industry has been under pressure for decades over
housing multiple hens in single cages.
The original response in Ontario has been to increase the
minimum space per hen, but to allow caging to continue.
In parts of the United States, such as California, there
have been hard-fought referendums over the issue. Most European countries have
banned cages.
Ed Kleinsasser, chairman of the Manitoba egg board, said voluntary
changes by farmers is better than waiting until the public and politicians
force change on the industry.
“I think this is the best way to go. It’s farmer initiated and we’re doing
what research tells us works,” he is quoted in the Manitoba Co-operator weekly
farm newspaper.
