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The Layer Hen Welfare code was released by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) under the Animal Welfare Act (1999) and signed off by the Minister of Agriculture Jim Sutton on the 22nd of December, 2005. This Welfare Code sets out specific detailed recommendations and minimum standards for the welfare of layer hens.
To read the MAF Lay Hen Comparative Welfare Assessment Report 2009 please click here. (This report was commissioned by MAF to assess welfare in the three layer hen production systems in New Zealand, i.e. cage, barn and free range. This report will be part of the information considered by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee in their review of the Animal Welfare (Layer Hens) Code of Welfare 2005.)
To read the EPF media release on Layer Hen Comparative Welfare Assessment Report 04 May 09 please click here.
Furnished Cages Research Project
Although enriched (or furnished) colony cages, which provide nesting, perching, scratching opportunities and more space per hen are being used in egg production systems in the European Union there are currently no such housing systems in New Zealand.
This project aims to evaluate furnished colony cage systems for laying hens under New Zealand conditions. The study will evaluate the systems in the context of animal health & welfare, genetic strains of hens, economics, practicalities of management and product quality.
To read a copy of the project summary, click here. |
