|
| |
To listen to soundfile: click on the headphones icon
To download soundfile: click on the mp3 file name
|
|
| |
Lee McCosker, Chief Operating Officer for Humane Choice, collects the evidence on free range eggs labels and finds a system in need of change. The Australian Egg Corporation is the peak industry body for all Australian egg producers who pay a levy per hen to the corporation. The peak body has recently put forward a proposal to increase the stocking densities for free range layer hens, an increase from 1,500 hens per hectare to 20,000.
To make matters worse the corporation argues that there are no caps at present in the code of practice and that a ceiling of 20,000 is beneficial to free range eggs producers.
At 1,500 birds per hectare, each hen has around 7m² of land, At 20,000 this amount of room drops to 0.5m² per hen, clearly a bone of contention under the label free range.
In addition, the amount of manure created per hectare would be massive, some 2.4 tons per day, leaving little chance of any pasture growing and indeed killing any pasture left with the amount of nutrient in the manure. The hens will then be grazing and scratching on pure manure, manure which will run off into waterways and leach into groundwaters when it rains.
|
|
| |
Indeed, the Australian Egg Corporation already allows such practices under its Egg Corp Assured Program. By contrast, a sustainable egg farm uses manageable sustainable systems with low density hens so that the manure is used in the overall farming system as well as allowing for practices such as field rotation.
Many free range eggs sold do not reflect such practices. Some businesses build paddocks around their hen houses and use the free range label so there is a mismatch with how consumers think those “free range” eggs are produced. Farmers markets would be a better place to but free range eggs than supermarkets.
While all the quality controls around the labelling and the use of the Australian Egg Corporations approved egg logo are in place, there is no guarantee that individual egg producers are adhering to those guidelines. Humane Choice has asked the ACCC to investigate the use of the free range egg label so that consumers can purchase eggs with confidence and know that consumer laws are not being breached. Given that free range eggs are more expensive to buy, it would appear that consumers are unwitting associates in the process.
|
|
| |
|
| | Free range farming is the opposite of monoculture. Pastures are rotated for different uses as are animals, each element in the system enhancing the land and its use so that maximum benefits are achieved. This means that there are systems for manure usage so the land is not degraded. There are some 200 of these small producers across NSW, carrying an average 5,000 hens, most selling to farmers markets or small wholesalers.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Labels from Humane Choice and the Free Range Farmers Association are a good guide and can be checked with individual farm websites which show things like stocking densities. To this end the website www.animalwelfarelabels.org.au is a useful site because it has set up comparisons of different egg producers.
In the same way that egg producers pay a levy to the Australian Egg Corporation for each hen, voting on issues follows the same pattern, so small producers face great difficulties making changes. The egg industry, then, is controlled by three major producers so it comes as no surprise whose interests are being served by increased stocking densities and free range egg labels.
|
|
|
| |
The consumer organisation Choice has taken a stand over this as have animal welfare groups but most consumers would be completely unaware of the real situation. | At present the Australian Egg Corporation’s application to the ACCC for increased stocking densities is on hold while further consultations are conducted by the corporation.
As for the small free range egg producers, that is akin to putting a fox in charge of the henhouse.
Lee McCosker was interviewed by Ruby Vincent for A Question of Balance. Images from Hens of Hallora and Katham Springs. Summary text by Victor Barry, November 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 For more information, please contact us |
)
