6 May 2009

Battery hen debate continues

10:30 am on 6 May 2009

The egg industry is being accused of misleading the public in claiming that a new survey vindicates battery hen cages.

The survey of 60 farms, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry, says there's little difference in stress levels between hens kept in cages or barns and those allowed to roam freely.

The Egg Producers Federation says the fact that anxiety levels were not higher in battery hens shows stress is about how individual farms operate.

But the SPCA says that statement is both misleading and disingenuous.

It says while the hens may not be more stressed in battery cages, they are denied the right to instinctive behaviour when trapped.