|
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.
For the full Layer Hen Welfare Code, please click here. For a poster summarising the Layer Hen Welfare Code, click here. To see our press release regarding the Welfare Code, please click here.
For more information click on the link below to view the Animal Welfare section of the
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) website.
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. |
