Sunday, Oct. 05, 2008

Prop. 2 would destroy our egg industry

Voters in Stanislaus, San Joaquin and Merced counties should pay special attention to Proposition 2 because, if passed, it would kill a segment of our agriculture industry, resulting in the loss of hundreds of jobs.

As with many initiatives, Proposition 2, which proponents call the Prevention of Farm Cruelty Act, sounds appealing. Who, for heaven's sake, would advocate cruelty to animals? But the title that the state put on the proposal is more accurate -- standards for confining animals. This proposition addresses the housing of three kinds of animals -- pregnant pigs, calves raised for veal and egg-laying chickens (as compared with poultry raised for meat).

California's hog and veal industries are small, and both are moving toward the husbandry practices advocated in the initiative. So Proposition 2 is really about the egg industry.

Advocates want to do away with chicken cages. They argue that cage confinement amount to animal cruelty because the hens are unable to spread their wings, to move about freely and to dust bathe. (For reference, the average wing span of a chicken is about 28 inches.)

So why are chickens kept in cages? Commercial egg operations started moving toward cages in the 1930s. An independent study released in July by the University of California Agricultural Issues Center explained: "Production of eggs in caged housing systems yielded significant labor and capital efficiencies. Furthermore, by separating laying hens from their manure, cages reduced the incidence of parasitic infections such as coccodiosis and roundworms."

The other big advantage of caged systems: Conveyor belts carry the eggs away, so they cannot be damaged or lie in manure, increasing the risk of contamination through the porous shells.

Proponents and opponents throw around a lot of big claims about the impact of Proposition 2. We found the explanations of Gustine veterinarian Nancy Reimers, board certified in poultry veterinary medicine, to be persuasive and understandable.

As a scientist, she notes, it is not possible to determine when and whether a chicken is "happy." But when stress becomes unmanageable, chickens quit laying eggs.

Proper care of chickens involves six elements (spelling out the acronym FLAWSS):

Feed

Light

Air

Water

Space

Sanitation

Proposition 2 only affects space, she notes, but a change in one factor influences all the others. Modern chicken houses are heated, cooled and monitored in every facet.

Cannibalism by chickens is a problem in caged and cage-free systems, Reimers says, but it is a greater problem in large groups, as exist with cage-free systems. Chickens prefer small social groups and establish a pecking order within that group. They are more stressed in large groups. Various studies document the higher mortality rate in cage-free systems because of disease and cannibalism.

Reimers notes that caged hens can stretch their wings and move about, but they will touch the sides of the cages or another bird.

The most important question: Are caged systems cruel? No, Reimers replied.

Initiative battles usually generate competing sets of numbers and Proposition 2 is no exception. Proponents cite a study claiming that egg prices would rise only 12 cents a dozen if producers were required to go to cage-free systems. The recent UC study puts the cost difference closer to 90 cents a dozen.

But proponents' penny-an-egg argument does not factor in the massive improvements in poultry facilities that would be required if Proposition 2 passes. To maintain the size of their current flocks, producers would have to build or retrofit 600 large barns at a cost of as much as $800 million.