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Poultry Welfare: Avian Influenza, Chicken Housing, and Organic EggsWednesday, November 30, 2005East Bay Express Jonathan Kauffman Read the full article: http://www.eastbayexpress.com/Issues/2005-11-30/news/feature.html Concerns about the possibility of a US outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza are creating a debate over animal welfare, chicken housing, and "biosecurity." An article in California's East Bay Express provides a comprehensive review of avian influenza's history and discusses implications of the disease for handling poultry raised for both eggs and meat consumption. According to the article, "If public health officials, or poultry industry spin doctors, succeed in pitting free-range ideals against human health, it's a safe bet which side is going to lose." The article's author believes that smaller, more humane farming operations are likely to be the first farms quarantined and "depopulated" (all birds culled) in the event of an outbreak. The article highlights the Compassion Over Killing (COK) campaign to stop the egg industry's use of the misleading "Animal Care Certified" logo. It also mentions the Humane Society of the United States' (HSUS) recent campaign successes convincing retailers to discontinue sales of eggs from "battery" caged hens. Interestingly, however, criticism of modern egg production is not limited to activists, but also includes at least one company marketing organic eggs. Horizon Organic, one of the largest producers of organic milk and eggs, recently issued a press release criticizing conventional egg farms and touting organic eggs "without the guilt." According to the release, "A conventional egg is typically produced in a large-scale poultry farm that can house up to five hens in a small cage." |