Cage-free eggs have drawbacks says farm animal welfare expert

The push for cage-free eggs by fast food companies is not necessarily the best option, according to afarm animal welfare expert at the Atlantic Veterinary College.

• P.E.I. egg producer supports transition away from battery cages
• Canadian egg farmers to abandon battery cages by 2036
• McDonald's switching to cage-free chickens for its Egg McMuffins

Michael Cockram at UPEI'sSir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centresays he approves of the standards the Egg Farmers of Canada announced Friday, withCanadian commercial producers committingto raise hens in enriched cages by 2036.

These cages almost double the spacefor the birds and provide nesting boxes, perches and grooming areas.

While no one system is perfect, said Cockram, andall have their pros and cons, hesupports the Canadian industry moving to the enriched cages model.

"I think it's unfortunate that some companies are being pressurized to go cage-free, because that would preclude the enrich or furnished cage, and thatdoes offer a number of welfare advantages and it's very feasible for the industry to transition to," said Cockram.

Cage-free farming where hens roam free in a barn,also know as free-run can lead to aggressivebehaviour,such as pecking and cannibalism, said Cockram, andit's more difficult for farmers to keep the environment clean.

On Feb. 4.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. The companysaid its transition to cage-freewould be complete by 2020.

Tim Hortons/Burger King plans to be cage-free in its supply chainby 2025. McDonald's, Wendy's, Starbucks, Subway and dozens of other major food restaurants and retailers have announced similar policies.