2120 final report.pdf - Agra CEAS Consulting

THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF THE VARIOUS SYSTEMS TO KEEP LAYING HENSFigure A1.10 shows the percentage of production that is accounted for by alternative systems overthe same time period. The percentage of production accounted for by alternative systems grewfrom 8% in 1990 to 44% in 2003, although reached a high of 52% in 1999 before caged eggproduction began to increase once more. Whilst there have been fluctuations in the proportion ofproduction from alternative systems, generally speaking year to year decreases in alternativeproduction have been smaller than in caged and increases larger as the overall proportion ofalternative production has increased.100%80%Proportion of total flock60%40%20%0%1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003Free range Deep litter Perchery Organic CagedFigure A1.10: Evolution of importance of alternative systems 1990-2003Sources: DG Agri, Agricultural Situation in the Community, Danish Poultry Council and Agra CEAS Consulting.Figure A1.9 shows relatively steep falls in caged laying hen numbers from 1996 to 1999 and relativelystable overall numbers of laying hens in alternative systems. Figure A1.10 shows the consequentialincrease in the importance of alternative systems. Although this period coincides with the use ofdomestic support for alternative systems (1996 and 1997), the extent to which this support wasresponsible for these events is unknown. It is, however, worth noting that caged laying hensincreased as a proportion of the total in 2000 for the first time since 1993 and in absolute numbersfor the first time since 1996.The surplus of alternative eggs (the difference between eggs delivered and sold) is illustrated inFigure A1.11. This shows that delivery has exceeded sales and suggests that supply exceeds demand,in some cases quite considerably 53 . The main point to note is the increase in surplus production from53 It is necessary to have at least a small surplus to meet peaks in demand.133