Certified Humane® certifies the first laying hen farm in Japan

Certified Humane® has just reached an important milestone in its international expansion: the certification of the first laying hen farm in Japan. Agricultural Cooperative Corporation Zao Farm, the company behind the JAPAN Zao Kogen Farm brand, received certification for its cage-free egg production operation, which houses approximately 30,000 hens across ten poultry houses.

Located in Miyagi Prefecture, the farm developed its production system with a focus on bird welfare from the initial facility planning stages. The decision to pursue certification stemmed from the alignment between the farm’s philosophy and the principles of the Certified Humane® program, which establishes requirements for the responsible raising of farm animals.

This recognition represents a step forward in promoting animal welfare practices in egg production in Japan, where, according to the farm itself, cage-free systems have not yet been widely adopted.

From pork production to laying hen farming

Founded in January 1988, Agricultural Cooperative Corporation Zao Farm has built its experience in livestock production, with a particular focus on its JAPAN X® pork brand.

Its entry into egg production began with a specific motivation: improving the taste of tonkatsu, a Japanese dish made with breaded pork. Recognizing the importance of the eggs used in its preparation, the team decided to develop its own egg production operation.

The initiative also reflected a conviction developed over decades of working with animals: food quality is connected to the conditions in which animals live and are raised.

With this perspective, JAPAN Zao Kogen Farm was established as a 100% cage-free production system, designed to allow hens to express their natural behaviors.

An environment designed around the birds’ needs

The farm is located in a forested area of the Zao Kogen Prefectural Natural Park, approximately 580 meters above sea level. The property has ten poultry houses, where around 30,000 laying hens are raised without cages.

The facilities provide conditions that allow the birds to walk freely, take dust baths, rest on perches, and use nests for laying eggs. The layout of the spaces takes into account the hens’ ability to choose different activities throughout the day.

Environmental control is also part of the daily management routine. Sensors installed at the birds’ breathing height monitor temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, and ammonia levels around the clock. The data is integrated with the ventilation systems, allowing the team to monitor air conditions inside the poultry houses.

Feed is another important consideration for the team. The formulation includes ingredients such as alfalfa, Japanese mugwort, fishmeal, and soy, in a blend developed to meet the hens’ nutritional needs.

Daily care as part of animal management

At Zao Farm, animal welfare is also connected to the way employees interact with the birds.

The team observes the hens’ behavior daily, paying attention to their movements, dust bathing, and resting periods on perches. These observations help identify changes and determine when additional care may be needed.

Because the farm was designed with animal welfare in mind from the outset, the company does not have a comparison of conditions before and after certification. Instead, the goal was to incorporate these principles into the original design of the operation.

This approach considers different aspects of animal husbandry as part of an integrated system, including feed, water, air quality, housing, and human handling.

Why pursue Certified Humane® certification?

During the planning of the new farm, the team learned about the Certified Humane® program and recognized a connection between its animal welfare requirements and the philosophy guiding the project.

The cooperative sought to implement farming practices aligned with international standards, establishing criteria for bird care from the very beginning of its operations.

The certification covers 100% of Zao Farm’s laying hen operation: all ten poultry houses, approximately 30,000 birds, and the entire egg product line produced at this facility. The cooperative also produces pork, but that activity is not included in the certification mentioned here.

For the company, this recognition reinforces its commitment to maintaining farming practices that consider the hens’ needs and to continuing this work over time.

Cage-free eggs and expansion into new markets

JAPAN Zao Kogen Farm Cage-Free Egg® products are used in the group’s own hotels, restaurants, and tourist facilities, which are committed to sourcing eggs from cage-free production systems.

The company is also expanding its commercial presence in other regions of Japan, focusing on hotels, restaurants, and businesses interested in this type of product. At the same time, it is working to establish export opportunities and serve international markets.

The introduction of Certified Humane® certification to Japanese egg production marks a new chapter for the cooperative and expands the program’s presence in a market seeking to advance its animal welfare practices.

By combining facilities designed around the birds’ needs, environmental monitoring, and daily observation of the animals, Zao Farm aims to continue developing a production model that considers both food quality and the conditions in which animals are raised.

Published on November 7, 2026