Canadian egg farmers are shifting their industry to meet what they say is a growing demand for cage-free eggs.
Right now, 90 per cent of Canadian egg farms use conventional housing, but by 2036, Egg Farmers of Canada aims to completely phase out conventional methods. Within eight years, it hopes to reach 50 per cent alternative housing, and 85 per cent in 15 years.
Glen Jennings, an egg farmer from Nova Scotia and director on the national commodity group's board, says alternative housing would include enriched housing, free-run, aviary, or free-range systems.
"The timeline we have in place is, of course, based on the age equipment that's in our system, so absolutely when a farmer retools, he's not allowed install a conventional system (after July 1), he has to do one of the alternative housing systems," Jennings says.
Source : SteinbachOnline