Welfare of Laying Hens: A New Challenge for Veterinarians

Veterinarians at the forefront of the transition toward more sustainable farming practices that respect the welfare of laying hens—that is the goal of the Federation of European Veterinarians. The FVE is therefore calling on practitioners to take a stand in the current debate and encourage farmers to adopt an alternative system capable of meeting the animals’ needs. Their role is also to advise farmers on improving the animal welfare of laying hens and to contribute to the development of viable solutions for all stakeholders.   Laying hens are sentient beings. They are social animals that engage in numerous complex and structured social interactions. According to animal welfare standards, they should be able to express these behaviors and not suffer from frustration, featherpecking, or cannibalism in the environment in which they are kept. This is far from the case in most poultry farms. The environment must be designed to meet the animals’ needs, not the other way around. Contrary to this principle, conventional cages were originally created to improve productivity and the efficiency of egg production, with the goal of ensuring better hygiene and reducing the incidence of disease. With the emergence of animal welfare concerns, these unenriched cage systems have been banned in Europe since 2012 and replaced by enriched cages—featuring perches, for example—that are significantly better suited to hens. However, attitudes and knowledge have evolved, and these standards are once again in need of revision. Animal welfare, including physical health, is now an essential aspect of sustainable animal production systems. And the very concept of animal welfare is evolving as research on the subject progresses; it no longer focuses solely on the absence of negative experiences. It is no longer enough for animals to merely survive in their environment; they must enjoy a certain quality of life in terms of comfort and pleasure. As a result, cages—even those with minimal enrichment—are coming under increasing criticism, as they limit laying hens’ ability to engage in species-appropriate behaviors and enjoy positive experiences.

In recent years, several countries (France, as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany) and numerous companies have committed to transitioning to cage-free, free-range farming for laying hens by 2025 (EggTrack 2020 report).

In addition to the ethical responsibility toward animals, this goes hand in hand with increased consumer expectations and pressure from animal protection associations advocating for animal welfare, which has led to a decline in the market for products derived from cage-reared animals. For the Federation of European Veterinarians (FVE), veterinary practitioners—whose goal is to improve, protect, and safeguard animal health and animal welfare—must be at the forefront of this transition. As advocates for animal welfare, the veterinary profession must set an example and lead the way by informing and raising awareness among the general public. It must inspire, facilitate, and guide discussions on the subject by contributing its scientific knowledge, ethical reasoning, and practical advice. Veterinarians should therefore take a stand and actively engage to facilitate collaboration among researchers, the agri-food industry, authorities, and other relevant stakeholders to promote an economically viable transition toward livestock systems that take animal welfare into account and improve it. Veterinarians can directly contribute to this evolution by providing personalized advice to farmers. They can also advance knowledge to minimize the potential impacts of the transition to alternative livestock systems, particularly by conducting ethological research to better understand the needs of laying hens. Indeed, studies in this area are rare. Yet they should be a priority in order to establish an essential foundation for updating recommendations for future farming systems. The FVE supports a smooth and gradual transition—but within a reasonable timeframe—to new farming systems. Care must be taken to ensure that the recommended alternative systems are capable of meeting the animals’ physical, mental, and behavioral needs, while also guaranteeing health security through preventive measures and ensuring that they are viable from a socioeconomic and environmental standpoint. The stakes are therefore high.