Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T21:15:02.677Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Hens’ welfare to egg quality: a European perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2009

E.N. SOSSIDOU  and
H.A. ELSON
E.N. SOSSIDOU*
Affiliation:
National Agricultural Research Foundation (N.AG.RE.F.), Veterinary Research Institute, 57001 N.AG.RE.F. Campus, Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece
H.A. ELSON
Affiliation:
ADAS Gleadthorpe, Meden Vale, Mansfield, Nottingham NG20 9PF, United Kingdom
*
Corresponding author: [email protected], [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

In this study, laying hen welfare is taken into account as part of an overall ‘egg safety and quality concept’. A holistic approach is adopted that encompasses the whole food chain in which responsibility for the production of safe and high quality eggs is shared along the entire food chain. Scientific data on egg quality traits in relation to laying hen welfare in different housing systems are presented. Public concern to improve laying hen welfare and egg quality is widely discussed, partly because it is an area of potential added value for producers, retailers, processors, manufacturers, producer cooperatives. Legislation and legal requirements for the labelling of eggs are described in order to demonstrate the ability to provide sound and scientifically based information on the welfare status of laying hens used to supply particular eggs. The study concludes by highlighting achievements and future aspects on the relationship between hens’ welfare and egg quality.

Keywords

laying henwelfareegg qualityhousing system
Type
Review Article
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 65 , Issue 4 , December 2009 , pp. 709 - 718
Copyright
Copyright © World's Poultry Science Association 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

ABRAHAMSSON, P. and TAUSON, R. (1995) Aviary systems and conventional cages for laying hybrids. - Effects on production, egg quality, health and bird location in three hybrids. Acta Agriculture Scandinavia, Animal Science 45:191-203.Google Scholar
ALVEY, D.M. and TUCKER, S.A. (1993) Effect of cage floor type on hen welfare and egg quality. British. Poultry Science 34: 814-815.Google Scholar
ALVEY, D.M., LINDBERG, C. and TUCKER, S.A. (1996) Performance of hens in modified cages. British Poultry Science 37:S7-S10.Google Scholar
APPLEBY, M.C., WALKER, A.W., NICOL, C.J., LINDBERG, A.C., FREIRE, R., HUGHES, B.O. and ELSON, H.A. (2002) Development of furnished cages for laying hens. British Poultry Science 43: 489-500.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
BARBOSA, F.J., SILVA, M., SILVA, I. and COELHO, A. (2006) Egg quality in layers housed in different production systems and submitted to two environmental conditions. Revista Brasileira de Ciência Avícola Print ISSN 1516-635X, Vol.8 no.1, Campinas Jan./Mar. 2006.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
BENNETT, R.M. and LARSON, D. (1996) Contingent valuation of the perceived benefits of farm animal welfare: an exploratory survey. Journal of Agricultural Economics 47: 224-235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
BRAKE, J.D. and PEEBLES, E.D. (1992) Laying hen performance as affected by diet and cage density. Poultry Science 71: 945-950.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
BRAMBELL, F.W.R. (1965) Report of the Technical Committee to Enquire into the Welfare of Animals kept under Intensive Livestock Husbandry Systems. HMSO London Cmnd 2836.Google Scholar
BROOM, D.M. (1986) Indicators of poor welfare. British Veterinary Journal 142: 524-526.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
CARDELLO, A.V. (1995) Food Quality: relativity, context and consumers expectations. Elsevier Science Limited, UK, Food Quality and Preference 6: 163-170.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CAREY, J.B., KUO, F.L. and ANDERSON, K.E. (1995) Effects of cage population on the productive performance of layers. Poultry Science 74: 633-637.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
CASWELL, J.A. (1998) Valuing the benefits and costs of improved food safety and nutrition. Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics 42: 409-424.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CASTELLINI, C., PERELLA, F., MUGNAI, C. and BOSCO, A.D. (2006) Welfare, productivity and qualitative traits of egg in laying hens reared under different rearing systems. Poster presented at XII European Poultry Conference, Verona, 10-14 September, Italy, http://orgprints.org/9331/01/Welfare,_productivity_and_qualitative_traits_of_egg.pdfGoogle Scholar
COOPER, J.J. and ALBENTOSA, M.J. (2003) Behavioural priorities of laying hens. Avian and Poultry Biology Reviews 14 (3): 127-149.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CRONEY, C.C. and MILLMAN, S.T. (2007) The ethical behavioural basis for farm animal welfare legislation. Journal of Animal Science 2007 85:556-565.Google Scholar
CROXALL, R.A. and ELSON, H.A. (2007) The comparative welfare of laying hens in a wide range of egg production systems as assessed by criteria in Swedish animal welfare standards. Proceedings of World's Poultry Science Association Spring Conference. British Poultry Science 48: supplement 1.Google Scholar
DAWKINS, M.S. (1990) From an animals point of view - Motivation, fitness and animal welfare. Behavioural Brain Science 13: 1 - 61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, and FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS, (2002) English code of recommendations for the welfare of livestock: laying hens. Defra Publications, London. UK.Google Scholar
DE REU, K., GRIJSPEERD, K., HEYNDRICKS, M., ZOONS, J., DE BAERE, K., UYTTENDALE, M., DEBEVERE, J. and HERMAN, L. (2005) Bacterial eggshell contamination in conventional cages, furnished cages and aviary housing systems. British Poultry Science 26: 149-155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DUNCAN, I.J.H. and PETHERICK, J.C. (1989) Cognition: the implications for animal welfare. Applied Animal Behavioural Science 24: 81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
EC SPECIAL EUROBAROMETER, (2005) Attitudes of consumers towards the welfare of farmed animals. Special Eurobarometer 229/Wave 63.2-tns Opinion & Social.Google Scholar
EC 1999 COUNCIL REGULATION NO 1804/1999 OF JULY 1999 SUPPLEMENTING REGULATION (EEC) NO 2092/91 (1999) on organic production of agricultural products. Official Journal L 222 24/08/1999: 1-28.Google Scholar
EFSA, (2005) Welfare aspects of various systems for keeping laying hens. Scientific report EFSA-Q-2003-92. www.efsa.eu.int/science/ahaw/ahaw_opinions/831. The EFSA Journal 2005, 1-23.Google Scholar
ELSON, A. (2004) The laying hen: systems of egg production. Welfare of the Laying Hen. Poultry Science Symposium Series 27: 67-80, CABI Publishing, Oxford.Google Scholar
ELSON, A. (2008) Do extensive poultry systems really offer superior welfare? Poultry International 47(3): 10-14.Google Scholar
ELSON, H.A. (1990) Recent developments in laying cages designed to improve bird welfare. World's Poultry Science Journal 46: 34-37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ELSON, H.A. and CROXALL, R.A. (2006) European study on the comparative welfare of laying hens in cage and non-cage systems. European Poultry Science 70(5): 194-198.Google Scholar
EU COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 1999/74/EC (1999) Laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens. Official Journal of the European Communities L 203 03/08/1999: 53-57.Google Scholar
FARM ANIMAL WELFARE COUNCIL, (1991) Report on the Welfare of Laying Hens in Colony Systems. MAFF Publications. London.Google Scholar
FARM ANIMAL WELFARE COUNCIL, (2006) Report On Farm Welfare: Practicalities of Labelling.Google Scholar
FRASER, D. (2006) Animal welfare assurance programs in food production: A framework for assessing the options. Animal Welfare 15: 93-104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
GOULD, W.A. (1977) Food Quality Assurance. AVI Publishing, Westport.Google Scholar
HARPER, G. and HENSON, S. (2001) Consumer Concerns about Animal Welfare and the Impact on Food Choice. EU FAIR CT98-3678, Final Report. Korver, S. and J.A.M. Van Arendonck (1988). Modelling of Livestock Production Systems. Kluwer Academic Publishers for the Commission of the European Communities.Google Scholar
HEGELUND, L., SORENSEN, J.T. and HERMANSEN, J.E. (2006) Welfare and productivity of laying hens in commercial organic egg production systems in Denmark. NJAS-Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54: 147-155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
KORVER, S. and VAN ARENDONK, J.A.M. (1988) Modelling of livestock production systems. Kluwer Acad. Publ., Dordrecht, the Netherlands: 215 pp.Google Scholar
KOSMIDOU, M.D., FORTOMARIS, P.D., SOSSIDOU, E.N., YANNAKOPOULOS, A.L. and TSERVENI-GOUSSI, A.S. (2007) The effect of an enriched pasture with aromatic plants on some egg quality characteristics of free-range hens. Proceedings of the XVIII European Symposium on the Quality of Poultry Meat and the XII European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg products of WPSA, 2-5 September, Prague, pp. 73-74.Google Scholar
KOSMIDOU, M., FORTOMARIS, P., SOSSIDOU, E.N., SAMOURIS, G. and TSERVENI-GOUSSI, A. (2008) Antioxidant effect of two cultivated aromatic plants in egg yolk of free-range hens. World's Poultry Science Journal 64 (supplement 1): p 80.Google Scholar
LAYWEL, (2004) Report with consensual version of welfare definition and welfare indicators. www.laywel.eu/web/pdf/deliverable%2012.pdfGoogle Scholar
LAYWEL SSPE-CT-2004-502315 (2006) Welfare implications of changes in production systems for laying hens. www.LayWel.eu.Google Scholar
LEYENDECKER, M., HAMANN, H., HARTUNG, J., WEBER, R.M., GLÜNDER, G., NOGOSSEK, M., NEUMANN, U., KAMPHUES, J. and DISTI, O. (2002) Mortality and production traits of laying hens kept in battery cages, furnished cages and an aviary housing system. Proceedings of the Xl European Poultry Conference, Bremen, CD-Rom.Google Scholar
LORZ, A. (1973) Tierschutzgesetz. C.H. Beck'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, München.Google Scholar
LUNING, P.A., MARCELLS, W.J. and JONGEN, W.M.F. (2002) Food quality management, a technomanagerial approach. Wageningen, The Netherlands, 323 p.Google Scholar
MCGLONE, J.J. (1993) What is animal welfare? Journal of Agricultural Environmental Ethics 6 (Supplement 1-2): 26-36.Google Scholar
MENCH, J.A. (2003) Assessing animal welfare at the farm and group level: A United States perspective. Animal Welfare 12: 493-503.Google Scholar
MICHEL, V. and HUONNIC, D. (2003) A comparison of welfare, health and production performance of laying hens reared in cages or aviaries. British Poultry Science 43: 775-776.Google Scholar
MILLS, A.D., MARCHE, M. and FAURE, J.M. (1987) Extraneous egg shell calcification as a measure of stress in poultry. British Poultry Science 28: 177-181.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MOBERG, G.P. (1993) Using risk assessment to define domestic animal welfare. Journal of Agricultural Environmental Ethics 6 (Supplement 2): 1-7.Google Scholar
OIE, (2005) Terrestrial Animal Health Code-Appendix 3.7.1.-Guiding principles for animal welfare.Google Scholar
RAMANTANIS, S.B. (2004) An approach to the concept of the safety and quality of the food. Proceedings of the 3rd Hellenic Symposium on Food Hygiene and Food Technology, 18-19 March, Athens, Greece. Volume A: 29-47.Google Scholar
SOSSIDOU, E., VALERO, J. and EGIZABAL, A. (2003) From Livestock Welfare to Food Quality and Safety. Poster presented at the EURAGRI Conference “New Vision on European Food and Agricultural Research”, Athens.Google Scholar
SOSSIDOU, E.N. (2002) Statistical Modelling of Livestock Production Systems to Support Sustainable Management of Physical Resources. Proceedings of the International Congress of National Statistical Service of Greece-EUROSTAT, Agricultural Statistics in the new Millennium: The challenge of agri-environmental indicators as a tool for the planning of sustainable development for agriculture. Chania, Greece 13-15 November, pp. 209-215.Google Scholar
SOSSIDOU, E.N. and RAMANTANIS, S.B. (2004) On Farm Quality Management Systems. Proceedings of the 3rd Hellenic Symposium on Food Hygiene and Food Technology, 18-19 March, Athens, Greece Volume A:187-190.Google Scholar
SOSSIDOU, E.N. and SZÜCS, E. (2007) Farm Animal Welfare, Environment and Food Quality Interaction Studies. ISBN 978-960-89849-0-5, July 2007.Google Scholar
SPRUIJT, B.M., VAN DEN BOS, R. and PIJLMAN, F.T.A. (2001) A concept of welfare based on reward evaluating mechanisms in the brain: anticipatory behaviour as an indicator for the state of reward systems. Applied Animal Behavioural Science 72: 145-171.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
SZÜCS, E., JEZIERSKI, T., KALETA, T., ÁBRAHÁM, C.S., POIKALAINEN, V., SOSSIDOU, E. and PRAKS, J. (2006) ‘Part Social concerns. Chapter 4.-Ethical views concerning how to treat animals’.., in GEERS, R. & MADEC, F. (Eds) Livestock Production and Society, ISBN-10:90-76998-89-2, ISBN-13:978-90-76998-89-3 (Wageningen Academic Publishers., The Netherlands).Google Scholar
TAUSON, R. and HOLM, K.E. (2001) First furnished small group cages for laying hens in evaluation program on commercial farms in Sweden. Proceedings of the 6th European Symposium on Poultry Welfare, Zollikofen, Switzerland, pp. 26-32.Google Scholar
TAUSON, R. (2003) Experiences of production and welfare in small group cages in Sweden. Proceedings of the X WPSA European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products, Ploufragan, France, pp. 217-229.Google Scholar
VAN NIEKERK, T.C.G.M. and REUVENKAMP, B.F.J. (1997) Production and behaviour of laying hens in large group cages. Proceedings of the 5th European Symposium on Poultry Welfare, Wageningen, The Netherlands, pp. 145-146.Google Scholar
VAN NIEKERK, T.C.G.M. and REUVENKAMP, B.F.J. (1999) . Enriched cages for laying hens. World Poultry 15 (12): 34-37.Google Scholar
WALL, H. and TAUSON, R. (2002) Egg quality in furnished cages for laying hens – effects of crack reduction measures and hybrids. Poultry Science 81: 340-348.Google Scholar
WEBSTER, J. (2005) The assessment and implementation of animal welfare: theory into practice. Revue scientific et technique (International Office of Epizootics) 24 (2):723-734CrossRefGoogle Scholar
WELFARE QUALITY, . FOOD-2002-T25 (2007) Improved strategies in animal welfare for improved food quality. Integrated Project. Homepage: http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch.Google Scholar
WIEPKEMA, P.R. (1982) On the identity and significance of disturbed behaviour in vertebrates, in: BESSEI, W. (Ed.) Disturbed behaviour in farm animals, pp. 7-17 (Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart).Google Scholar