Saturday, June 28, 2008

West Co. president tapped for national egg producer post

By JOHN HOLLAND
jholland@modbee.com

last updated: November 04, 2007 04:07:25 AM

Modesto egg producer Gary West has taken on a task that could be, well, delicate.

West, president of J.S. West & Co., is the new chairman of United Egg Producers, a national group based in Alpharetta, Ga.

Over the next two years, he will work to boost demand for a food that has had an unhealthy image among some consumers. He will help egg producers deal with increased feed costs and other things that squeeze their margins.

And within California, West could face a November 2008 ballot initiative that would phase out the small cages used for most of the state's laying hens. He said the cages, contrary to claims by animal-rights activists, are a

humane way of housing the birds.

"This is something that we pride ourselves on, basically, to provide the gold standard for animal welfare," he said.

West, 68, is a grandson of James Stewart West, who founded the company in 1909. About 125 people work in the egg division, which started in 1952 and supplies Northern California, Nevada and Hawaii under several labels. The company also sells livestock feed, pet food and propane.

West talked about his national role in an interview at an egg-laying operation near Hilmar. It is one of three that J.S. West owns in Stanislaus and Merced counties. The company has about 1.7 million hens at a time.

These are not the henhouses of old. They are metal buildings surrounded by razor wire to keep out people who might track in poultry diseases. Each day, arriving workers don clean coveralls, shoes and hats.

The cages also play a part in disease control, West said. This includes the deadly strain of avian influenza that

has ravaged poultry flocks in parts of the Eastern Hemisphere.

"I think one of the reasons it hasn't come over is we have protections for these birds," West said. "If they were let out into the open, they would be susceptible to all of these diseases."

Industry leaders say the cages also protect hens from predators and from injury by other hens.

Under standards set by United Egg Producers, the cages have as little as 67 square inches of floor space for each hen. Animal-rights groups say this space, less than a standard sheet of letter paper, does not allow the birds to turn around or flap their wings.

Tom Silva, a vice president at J.S. West, said the ultimate goal of the cage-ban backers is to "put an end to animal agriculture." West said he expects them to make emotional appeals to the state's voters as they seek the signatures that would put the measure on the ballot.

West said cage-free eggs are available to consumers who want them, but the initiative would eliminate the low-cost eggs from caged hens, 95 percent of the supply.

The measure would have little effect on chickens raised for meat, most of which roam freely inside large buildings.

Richard Matteis, a longtime industry colleague of West, said he is a good choice to lead United Egg Producers.

"He certainly is one of the top leaders in the egg industry and agriculture in general," said Matteis, administrator of the California Farm Bureau Federation and former executive director of the Pacific Egg & Poultry Association. "He's always at the cutting edge and at the forefront."

West said the trend is promising in another part of his work -- egg demand.

Per capita consumption slumped in the 1980s and 1990s because of a belief that the cholesterol in eggs contributed to heart disease.

Industry leaders say recent research has shown that moderate consumption is OK as long as people watch their diet and get enough exercise.

"Demand for eggs has increased," West said. "Time Magazine had this picture of two eggs with a piece of bacon in a frown 20 years ago. This year, they had one with a big smile."

Bee staff writer John Holland can be reached at jholland@modbee.com or 578-2385.

• Comments
• Add Comment
• Disclaimer