Consumers increasingly question how their food is raised. Likewise, national restaurant chains and food retailers have begun seeking ways to assure themselves and their customers that their food products are raised as humanely as possible. In an effort to make egg production socially acceptable, economically profitable and environmentally sustainable, the United Egg Producers appointed a committee of scientists familiar with the industry and research on common production practices. Examined were hen welfare, housing systems and common yet controversial production practices like induced molting and beak trimming. The following article contains a summary of recommendations from this committee.

Animal well-being always has been a concern for animal agriculture.

More recently, however, consumers have questioned how their food is raised, evidencing an increased interest in animal welfare and producer practices. National restaurant chains and food retailers also have picked up on consumer concerns and have begun aggressively seeking ways and means to assure themselves and their customers that their food products are raised as humanely as possible.

The United Egg Producers (UEP) was one of the first industry groups to establish welfare guidelines for an animal agriculture enterprise. At the same time, UEP also recognized that the egg production industry could do more to improve the husbandry and living conditions of the laying hen. In 1999, UEP commissioned a committee of scientific experts to provide recommendations for new welfare guidelines for layer hens.

The charge was simple, but the process was complex. The committee was asked to evaluate the current understanding of laying hen well-being and to use that review to create a set of science-based welfare guidelines.

The committee was comprised of scientists familiar with the industry and the body of research that had been done on hen welfare, housing systems and common yet controversial production practices such as induced molting and beak trimming. In addition to university scientists, representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the industry and the American Humane Assn. participated.

Practices were evaluated based on published peer-reviewed research and available expertise. The committee also visited modern egg production farms and allied industries. Where they found little or no formal research, the committee said so and offered recommendations for action until more is known. The following article contains the summary of the recommendations from the UEP scientific advisory committee.

It is important that the egg producer, consumer or casual reader understand that these guidelines will change as more becomes known about animal well-being in general and hen welfare specifically. The committee also recognized numerous areas where it did not have enough information to make a final decision. As a result, the committee has provided an extensive list of research and education recommendations.

In 2002, UEP released, its Animal Care Guidelines, based upon the recommendations of the scientific advisory committee. They include science-based standards for cage space per hen, air quality, beak trimming, molting, handling and transportation.

Egg farmers who voluntarily implement the guidelines and pass an annual independent audit become an Animal Care Certified company and can display...