Nation's Third Largest Egg Producer Transitioning To Cage-Free

Oct 16, 2015

Rembrandt Foods, the nation's third-largest egg producer, said Tuesday it is moving toward raising its birds in a cage-free environment.

The Spirit Lake, IA, company did not outline how long it would take to make the change, but said cage-free egg production "will become the company's standard."

Dave Rettig, president of Rembrandt Foods, said during the past five years the company has "invested almost exclusively" in cage-free egg production houses as more food companies announce they are switching to birds raised under conditions that allow them more room to move around.

"The cage-free future is the new model for producing premier quality products in the egg industry," Rettig said. Fewer than 10 percent of the nation's egg-laying hens are cage-free, according to government and industry figures

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Video: Secure Pork Supply Plan | Prepare to Protect Your Herd | U.S. Pork Producers

Join Jill Brokaw, a third-generation pig farmer and staff member of the National Pork Board, as she dives into the vital role of the Secure Pork Supply (SPS) Plan in preparing the U.S. pork industry for potential foreign animal disease outbreaks. This video is an essential watch for pork producers who are looking to safeguard their operations against the threats of diseases like foot and mouth disease, classical swine fever, and African swine fever.

•Why Should Pork Producers Care?

An outbreak of foreign animal diseases in the U.S. could lead to severe restrictions and potentially result in industry-wide financial losses estimated between $15 to $100 billion. The SPS Plan is a collective effort to prevent such catastrophic outcomes by enhancing biosecurity, ensuring animal traceability, and promoting effective disease monitoring.

What You'll Learn:

The Importance of Preparedness: Understand why being proactive is crucial for maintaining business continuity during an outbreak.

•Enhanced Biosecurity Measures:

Write a site-specific biosecurity plan that can serve as the first line of defense against potential outbreaks.

•Animal Disease Traceability:

Learn about the significance of tracking animal movement and how acquiring a premises identification number (PIN) and using AgView can facilitate this process. Disease Monitoring: Find out how continuous observation and reporting can keep your herd healthy and disease-free.

•Getting Started with SPS:

The video breaks down the seemingly daunting task of preparing for a foreign animal disease outbreak into manageable steps. With free resources available at www.securepork.org, including templates and instructions, Jill guides producers on developing a customized plan to enhance their farm's defenses.

•Expert Insights:

Hear from Dr. Pam Zaabel on collaborating with your herd veterinarian to develop and implement your SPS plan effectively.

•Takeaway:

The Secure Pork Supply initiative is more than a plan; it's a commitment to the resilience of our food supply and the livelihoods within the pork industry. By embracing these proactive measures, we can collectively enhance our preparedness for foreign animal disease outbreaks.

Nation's Third Largest Egg Producer Transitioning To Cage-Free

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Video: Secure Pork Supply Plan | Prepare to Protect Your Herd | U.S. Pork Producers

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