Canadian egg farmers to abandon battery cages by 2036

Egg Farmers of Canada says its members will notinstall any newbattery cages and will begin an industry-wide transition to alternative production methods for its egg-producing hens. The shift will take 20 years to complete.

• Tim Hortons and Burger King to use cage-free eggs by 2025
• McDonald's switching to cage-free chickens for its Egg McMuffins

Animal welfare groups say battery cages, which each contain a few birds, are socrampedthat birds can't walk, spread their wings or engage in other natural behaviours. Each bird, they say, has less floor space than the size of a sheet of notebook paper.

EFC, whichrepresents more than 1,000 commercial egg farms in this country, said it hopes to have 50 per centofegg production done through alternativemethodswithin eight years, rising to 85per cent by 2031.

All production would be in alternative housingby 2036, which could include "enriched housing," which sees birds providedwithperches andcurtained-off nesting areas within much larger cages,orin free-run, aviary or free-range housing.

The egg farmers group calledits timetable "a realistic forecast of what is achievable."

"In response to the best available scientific research and in light of changing consumer preferences, I'm pleased that the entire industry has agreed to an orderly transition plan that will further diversify our production practices,"said Peter Clarke, chairman of Egg Farmers of Canada, in a statement.

Cages now dominate

About 90 per cent of egg production is currently done using conventional batterycage housing.

The animalwelfaregroup Mercy For Animals (MFA)commended Egg Farmers of Canada for its intention to phase out battery cages, but said its 2036 deadline was "simply outrageous."

"Cramming animals into cages so small they cannot walk or spread their wings is horrific animal cruelty that should be ended with the utmost speed and urgency," said MFA president Nathan Runkle, in a statement.

On Thursday,CaraFoods, which owns Harvey's, Swiss Chalet, Kelsey's and East Side Mario's, became the latest food company to announce a switch to 100 per cent cage-free eggs in its entire supply chain. Cara said its new cage-free transition would be complete by 2020.

Earlier this week, the owner of Tim Hortons and Burger King said its supply chain would be completely cage-free by 2025. McDonald's, Wendy's, Starbucks, Subway and dozens of other major food restaurants and retailers have announced similar policies.