The technical and animal protection conditions of domestic laying farms

Németh, Anett – Vincze, Judit – Falusi, Bálint

Keywords: laying farms, animal protection, technical conditions

Taking animal protection viewpoints into consideration, in the 2001 survey 46% of the laying-cages examined met regulatory requirements. The second survey (2004) with similar conditions painted a more favourable picture, as 57% of the laying-cages met the requirements valid in 2001. However, amendments to the regulations in the intervening period alters this picture in an unfavourable direction, as the increased cage-space required for each laying hen was only achieved in 31% of laying-cages. The EU’s animal protection regulations relating to laying hens has resulted in a lively debate among experts. Many among them hold that those advocating animal-friendly technologies have not taken fundamental professional viewpoints into consideration and that expectations in relation to producers are unrealistic and do not create a balance between effective production and the needs of the animals. Conforming to the EU’s demands also raises numerous questions in Hungary. Domestic egg production requires the creation of new laying-cages, due to the increased space requirement per laying hen. Taking the results of the 2004 survey as a base, around 1,742,000 more laying spaces are needed by 2012. Switzerland has already banned all forms of caged laying and Germany will do so from 2007, although imports of cage-produced eggs can continue. The processing industry is only interested in the animal maintenance technology if the additional costs can be passed on in the sales price. If the Hungarian egg sector recognises this market niche and further processes the eggs produced in the improved domestic cages, then it can sell its higher value-added product on the EU markets in the 2007-2013 period.