Empty Cages Not Bigger Cages

Campaign Against Factory Farming (CAFF) spokesperson Debra Ashton is dismayed at a leaked report from the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, advising the Agriculture Minister, that battery cages provide “better welfare outcomes” than free range systems.

“Independent scientific evidence supports the common sense view that hens suffer physically and mentally from the trauma of being crammed four to a cage with less room than a sheet of A4 paper. Battery hens have part of their beak removed to prevent them from pecking each other. Scientists have confirmed that this causes long term pain. Lack of exercise causes the bones of layer hens to become so brittle that many collapse and die in their cages. Broken bones are extremely common in battery hens removed for slaughter. Their feet suffer considerable discomfort because of the sloping wire floor and feather loss is high due to the constant rubbing against other birds and the sides of her cage.

"Bigger cages suggested are unacceptable. We want empty cages, not bigger cages."

Ms Ashton says the ludicrous advice given in the report confirms that the government is listening to the interests of the poultry industry and not the public. CAFF are therefore concentrating their campaign on educating the public directly, and encouraging a boycott of battery eggs.

“We want to make it clear to shoppers that if eggs are not labeled as "free range" or "barn laid" then they probably come from cruel battery cages.”

Every Saturday, CAFF holds public education campaigns at selected shopping centers and supermarkets in the Wellington region. "Many shoppers are horrified when they find out about factory farms."

CAFF is an independent Wellington based organisation working for the abolition of cruel factory farming in New Zealand.

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