Cage-free: production respects animal welfare and transforms the lives of billions of hens in Asia

Cage-free is, by all measures, the production system of the future.

According to the Asia Cage-Free Benchmark report by the Open Wing Alliance, released in 2024, Asia is home to the majority of the world’s commercial laying hens—more than 3 billion in total—of which about 90% are confined in cages.

However, raising hens cage-free is essential for sustainable egg production.

The research highlights that countries like New Zealand, Israel, and Australia lead the rankings in animal welfare practices, while countries like Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Vietnam are at the bottom, underscoring the urgent need for improvements.

Cage-free farming is better not only for the welfare of the birds, as it reduces parasite infestations and hen mortality, but also lowers greenhouse gas emissions and helps combat climate change.

The countless benefits that the cage-free system offers to hens, farmers, consumers, and the planet itself have not gone unnoticed by the market.

Today, the largest companies in the food industry are committed to respecting animal welfare, selling exclusively—now or in the near future—cage-free eggs.

Stay with us until the end of the text to understand why!

→ Download Technical Handbook: Cage-free production systems for commercial egg laying hens

Global requirement

For many years, the market favored the “conventional” system of egg production in caged farms, but the cage-free system represents a return to the truly traditional method of farming: allowing hens to roam freely, forage, and behave according to their species.

The combination of animal welfare, enhanced final products, and other multiple benefits has made the cage-free system more than just a trend—it is a true global requirement.

In an interview with Bloomberg, John Brunnquell, president of Egg Innovations, stated that “young adults really care about the planet.”

According to Brunnquell, “young adults are completely changing the food chain.” Proof of this is that while sales of conventional eggs dropped by 3% last year in the United States, sales of cage-free eggs rose by 12%, and organic eggs grew by over 7%.

The cage-free system and cage-free hen farming are the future of egg production, and in Asia, this future is already taking shape.

Many Asian companies are adopting cage-free practices to meet the growing consumer demand for more ethical and sustainable products.

To learn more about the cage-free system in Asia, visit Certified Humane Asia.

Prioritizing the animals

With consumers becoming increasingly demanding about production methods and product quality, food industry companies in Asia have recognized that respect for animal welfare and the cage-free production system are here to stay.

Humane management is a growing demand in the global market, with consumers eager to know where, how, and in what manner their food is produced. With the Certified Humane label, they get all these answers.

In addition to ensuring the welfare of their animals, displaying the Certified Humane label provides:

• Market positioning and visibility;
• Credibility and an excellent reputation;
• Increased efficiency and productivity;
• Consumer satisfaction.

→ Learn everything you need to know about animal welfare certification!

→ Technical Handbook (2nd Edition): Cage-free production systems for commercial egg laying hens

Published on September 7, 2024