Welfare Inspection Of Laying Hens- Caged & Alternative

Jarlath O’ Connor VIJarlath O’ Connor VI Animal Health And Animal Health And

Welfare DivisionWelfare Division

Systems

Irish E g g Ind u s try

C a g e S ys te m s7 5%

F re e -R a n ge2 0%

B a rn5 %

O rg a n ic< 1 %

A lte rn a tive S ys te m s2 5%

A n nu a l E g g P ro d uc tion1 0 0%

Where in Ireland?

Main playersMain players Monaghan (37%)Monaghan (37%) Cavan (14%)Cavan (14%) Rest (49%)Rest (49%)

Production System Distribution

CAVAN

CORK

GALWAY

MEATH

MONAGHAN

OTHER

System Distribution?

Main playersMain players Monaghan (66%)Monaghan (66%) Cavan (1%)?Cavan (1%)?

Cage System

1%

12%

66%

21% CAVAN

CORK

MONAGHAN

REST

System Distribution?

Main playersMain players Cavan (21%)Cavan (21%) Monaghan (20%)Monaghan (20%) Rest (39%)Rest (39%)

Alternative Systems

21%

6%

6%

8%20%

39%

CAVAN

CORK

GALWAY

MEATH

MONAGHAN

REST

Alternative Systems

S.I. 98/2002S.I. 98/2002 All built/rebuilt/re-All built/rebuilt/re-

instated > 01/01/2002instated > 01/01/2002 For all > 01/01/2007For all > 01/01/2007

FacilitiesFacilities NestsNests

One nest/ 7 hensOne nest/ 7 hens Group nests- Group nests-

1m1m22/120 hens/120 hens

Alternative Systems PerchesPerches

No sharp edgesNo sharp edges Not above litterNot above litter 15 cm/hen15 cm/hen 30 cm horiz. b/t perches30 cm horiz. b/t perches 20 cm horiz. b/t perch and 20 cm horiz. b/t perch and

wallwall LevelsLevels

No more than 4 levelsNo more than 4 levels < 54 cm headroom b/t levels< 54 cm headroom b/t levels Equal food and water accessEqual food and water access DroppingsDroppings

Cage Systems

Un-enriched Un-enriched (conventional) Cages(conventional) Cages From 01/01/2003 but From 01/01/2003 but

not > 01/01/2012 hens not > 01/01/2012 hens may be kept in un-may be kept in un-enriched cages enriched cages

550 cm550 cm22/hen unrestricted/hen unrestricted

Height >40 cm over Height >40 cm over 65% of cage 65% of cage oror not < 35 not < 35 cm at any pointcm at any point

Cage Systems

Un-enriched Un-enriched (conventional) Cages(conventional) Cages From 01/01/2003 on:From 01/01/2003 on:

Floor support Floor support forward facing forward facing clawsclaws

Slope of floor not > Slope of floor not > 14% or 8 degrees14% or 8 degrees

Cage Systems

CAGE SLOPECAGE SLOPE    Cage depth (R) Cage depth (R) 50 cm50 cm

Cage Height at back (P) Cage Height at back (P) 33 cm33 cm    Cage height at front (S) Cage height at front (S) 40 cm40 cm

Floor slope (8Floor slope (800) ) 7.9 7.9 00 (To Calculate: Tan x(To Calculate: Tan x00 = Q/R) = Q/R) (Therefore slope = x(Therefore slope = x0 0 = Tan= Tan-1-1[(S-[(S-

P) / R] )P) / R] )

P

Q

R

S

Cage Systems

Un-enriched Un-enriched (conventional) Cages(conventional) Cages From 01/01/2003 From 01/01/2003

on:on:Cage fitted with Cage fitted with

suitablesuitable claw claw shortenershortener

Cage Systems

Enriched CagesEnriched Cages From 01/01/2003 on:From 01/01/2003 on:

Total area of > 2000 Total area of > 2000 cmcm22

750 cm750 cm22/hen (at least /hen (at least 600 cm600 cm2 2 usuable/ hen)usuable/ hen)

Height > 20 cm at Height > 20 cm at every pointevery point

Cage Systems

Enriched CagesEnriched Cages From 01/01/2003 on:From 01/01/2003 on:

NestNest

LitterLitter

15 cm 15 cm perch/hen/cageperch/hen/cage

Claw shortenerClaw shortener

Is ventilation satisfactory?

Ventilation Ventilation Keep temp., gas, dust Keep temp., gas, dust

and rel. humidity and rel. humidity within healthy limitswithin healthy limits

Maximum Vent. RateMaximum Vent. Rate Minimum Vent. RateMinimum Vent. Rate Air circulationAir circulation

UniformUniform Draught-freeDraught-free

Is ventilation satisfactory?

Noxious gas build-up?Noxious gas build-up? Poor VentilationPoor Ventilation

• Low ambient temp.Low ambient temp. Waste removalWaste removal Wet litterWet litter

Ammonia Ammonia 5-15: Detectable by smell5-15: Detectable by smell 10-20: Adverse effects 10-20: Adverse effects

on humanson humans 25-50: Increased risk of 25-50: Increased risk of

resp. dis.resp. dis. 50+: Direct effect on 50+: Direct effect on

layers R.R/eyeslayers R.R/eyes

Is ventilation satisfactory?

What to look for?What to look for?

ThermometersThermometers Automated Automated

thermostatsthermostats Air quality in shedAir quality in shed Litter qualityLitter quality Faeces disposalFaeces disposal

How long is rest period where artificial light is used?

LightingLighting Darkness is deprivationDarkness is deprivation S.I. 98/2002S.I. 98/2002

Light sufficient to allow hens Light sufficient to allow hens see eachother, be seen, to see eachother, be seen, to investigate and act normallyinvestigate and act normally

24 hr cycle with twilight and 24 hr cycle with twilight and 8 hours uninterrupted 8 hours uninterrupted darknessdarkness

35-65 lux35-65 lux Stage of cycleStage of cycle Lower tiers of cagesLower tiers of cages

AggressionAggression Localised bunchingLocalised bunching

Forced moultingForced moulting

Litter adequacy/condition?

S.I. 98/2002S.I. 98/2002 MaterialsMaterials

HealthHealth• MitesMites• WormsWorms

BehaviourBehaviour• ForagingForaging• ScratchingScratching

Enriched cages?Enriched cages? Adequate litter to allow Adequate litter to allow

pecking/scratching/henpecking/scratching/hen

Equipment Maintenance

Questions?Questions? How regularly is How regularly is

automated equipment automated equipment checked?checked?

• > once/day> once/day What alternatives are What alternatives are

present should feeding present should feeding or environmental or environmental equipment breakdown?equipment breakdown?

• Action planAction plan Is there a functioning Is there a functioning

alarm system and alarm system and generator?generator?

• Must be presentMust be present

Are the hens provided with adequate feed and water? FeedersFeeders

S.I. 98/2002S.I. 98/2002 AlternativeAlternative

• Unrestricted accessUnrestricted access• 10 cm linear 10 cm linear

feeder/henfeeder/hen• 4 cm circular 4 cm circular

feeder/henfeeder/hen Un-enrichedUn-enriched

• 10 cm feeder/hen10 cm feeder/hen EnrichedEnriched

• 12 cm feeder/hen12 cm feeder/hen

Are the hens provided with adequate feed and water?

Water supplyWater supply S.I. 98/2002S.I. 98/2002

AlternativeAlternative• Unrestricted accessUnrestricted access• 2.5 cm/hen continous 2.5 cm/hen continous

drinkersdrinkers• 1 cm/hen circular 1 cm/hen circular

troughtrough• One nipple-drinker or One nipple-drinker or

cup/ 10 henscup/ 10 hens• Plumbed drinking Plumbed drinking

points – 2 nipple-points – 2 nipple-drinkers or cups within drinkers or cups within reach of each henreach of each hen

Are the hens provided with adequate feed and water? Water supplyWater supply

S.I. 98/2002S.I. 98/2002 Un-enrichedUn-enriched

• Unrestricted accessUnrestricted access• 10 cm linear 10 cm linear

trough/hentrough/hen• Plumbed drinking Plumbed drinking

points – 2 nipple-points – 2 nipple-drinkers or cups/cagedrinkers or cups/cage

EnrichedEnriched• Unrestricted accessUnrestricted access• Plumbed drinking Plumbed drinking

points – 2 nipple-points – 2 nipple-drinkers or drinkers or cups/hen/cagecups/hen/cage

The End