Effects of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and ... - FINS

1 st WorkshopXIII International Feed Technology Symposiumin battery cage can also differ: from one (individual cages to 2,3,4,5 and more hens (groupcages). Mainly cages with 4 or 5 hens are used.Battery system was created by the beginning of 20 th century, and its rapid expansion startedafter 2 nd World War and in countries with developed poultry production over 90% of hens inproduction of table eggs are housed in this system. However, many consumers, especially socalled animal protection activists, perceive cage system as unnatural and inhumane.Therefore, this system was even prohibited in some countries, in Switzerland for instance itis still prohibited, and starting from 2012, in its present form, it will be prohibited inEuropean Union. From that point on, in European Union only so called enriched cagesystems will be allowed, i.e. significantly more spacious cages for larger groups of hensequipped with perches and sand troughs for scratching and plucking.Non-battery systems in European Union include: a) production of eggs from free range, b)eggs from semi-intensive system, c) eggs from deep litter and d) eggs from aviary system.a) Eggs from free range are produced by hens which have permanent access during dayto free range predominantly covered with vegetation. This is type of pasture with maximumstocking density is 1000 hens per hectare (min. 10m² per hen). Interior of the hen house mustcomply with conditions stated under c) and d). Within this system organic production oftable eggs is organized, where in nutrition of hens organically produced feeds are usedwithout pesticides and in compliance with other conditions and requirements issued bycompetent organization and producer has to become member.b) Eggs from semi-intensive system are produced by hens which have permanentaccess during the day to open grass range, of maximum stocking density of 4000 hens perhectare (min. 2.5 m² of pasture per hen). Interior of the hen house must comply withconditions stated under c) and d).c) Eggs from deep litter are produced by hens housed in hen house with the maximumstocking density of 7 hens per 1 m². At least 1/3 of the floor space must be covered with litterof materials such as straw, sand, peat, etc. Sufficient part of floor surface available to hens(1/3 to 2/3) is used for collection of hen droppings/manure, i.e. it has to be covered withgrids or wire net.d) Eggs from aviary system are produced by hens housed in hen house with themaximum stocking density of 25 hens per 1 m² of floor surface. Interior of the hen house isequipped with perches, often in several levels, and for every hen perch of at least 15 cm oflength has to be provided.Poultry farms which produce eggs in stated non-battery systems are registered as such,regularly controlled by inspection of the competent government authority and are obligatedto keep records issued by regulations (date of housing of hens, number and age of hens athousing and according to production systems, number of eggs produced and delivered bydates, date of delivery of eggs and name of the buyer, etc.). Centres for packaging of eggsare authorized to use the name of the system of non-industrial production on retail packagesand on eggs, as well as to keep compulsory records on production of these eggs. Since eggsderive from non-battery systems they are more expensive compared to eggs from batterysystem and for potential misuse EU regulations have foreseen strict punishments.126