2120 final report.pdf - Agra CEAS Consulting

APPENDIX 1: MEMBER STATE REPORTSThe percentage of production accounted for by alternative systems is presented in Figure A1.85 overthe same time period. This shows that the proportion of the laying flock accounted for byalternative systems increased from 5.7% to 25.8% over the period. Although there have beenfluctuations year to year in the level of increase, the general trend is upwards fuelled by a mixture ofconsumer demand and retailer push as they seek to move towards a higher margin product. Whilstmost people expect this trend to continue towards 50% of the market, some members of theindustry feel that the demand for eggs from alternative systems will not last if there is an economicdownturn.100%80%Proportion of laying flock by system60%40%20%0%1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001Traditional cages Barn Free rangeFigure A1.85: Evolution of importance of alternative systemsSource DG Agri Agricultural Situation in the Community, Agra CEAS Consulting.Figure A1.86 shows that there is a discrepancy between alternative eggs delivered and sold (theabsence of data for barn systems between 1993 and 1998 is exactly that and not an indication thatthe market was perfectly balanced). In some cases the surplus of alternative eggs is considerable (see1997 and 1998 in particular). A surplus is required to ensure that peaks in demand can be met for allsize grades of eggs. Traditionally this surplus has been ‘cascaded’ from free range to barn systemsand from barn to economy lines (which were predominantly cage) 143 . This is necessary to ensureefficiency in highly automated packing stations where it would not be practicable to stop productionand remove remaining free range eggs, etc. from the packing system prior to starting packing intobarn packs.143 Free range requirements are considered to be compliant with barn production as the housing requirements are the same.319