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2120 final report.pdf - Agra CEAS Consulting

2120 final report.pdf - Agra CEAS Consulting

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THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF THE VARIOUS SYSTEMS TO KEEP LAYING HENSBased on the above, the 4-firm concentration ratio for Finland in 2003 was 67.3% 66 and the 8-firmconcentration ratio 81.7%. The packing industry is now less concentrated than it was prior toaccession when the Narpes egg packery did not exist, neither did two companies packing between1.5 and 1.8 million kg, nor one packing just under 1.0 million kg. A range of smaller packingcompanies were also founded after accession. Producers therefore now have a greater range ofpacking stations to send eggs to.A1.4.2.3. Main production systemsThe dominant system in Finland is the traditional cage (accounting for 86% of laying hens). The mainalternative system in use is deep litter which accounts for just over 10% of laying hens. A further 4%of laying hens are kept in organic systems 67 . There are just six producers using enriched cages, thelargest of which has just under 10,000 laying hens. Some producers have invested in what are knownas ‘enrichable’ cages. These are currently operated as a traditional cages, but the removal ofpartitions and addition of cage furniture will make the cage comply with Directive 1999/74/EC.Whilst production costs are said to be higher than production using traditional cages, they are not ashigh as expected using fully enriched cages and it is felt by some players in the industry that manyproducers will implement the Directive over time in this manner.All systems in use in Finland follow the EU legislation with no national modifications. Although not asystem issue, beak-trimming is not permitted in Finland.Figure A1.16 shows the evolution of laying hens kept by system from 1994 to 2002. Data are fromthe Agricultural Situation in the Community. Data on alternative systems is only available from 1996and data for caged production in 2002 is not yet available from this source. The Figure shows thatwhilst production in deep litter systems is increasing, it is fairly insignificant in comparison toproduction from traditional cages. The steep decline in laying hen numbers between 1996 and 1997reflects accession to the EU.66 Under the assumption that production from Munakuutoset is evenly split between the 5 companies.67 Organic production cannot be caged and thus these hens are in deep litter systems with a reduced stocking density of 5 rather than 9birds per m 2 , outdoor access and a limit of 3,000 birds per barn.149

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