An analysis of egg industry data has confirmed there are not enough free-range layer hens in Australia to produce the number of eggs labelled free-range. Read more here. The picture shows Jennifer nursing a free range chicken.
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About Me
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD is a critical thinker with expertise in the scientific method.
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My understanding is that there’s no standard of identity for “free range” animal products here in the US. A farmer could probably give his chickens access to a small exercise yard adjacent to a gigantic indoor facility for 30 minutes a day, and not run afoul (bad pun) of the law.
And even if there was a statutory definition, I’m not sure how it could be enforced. “Organic’ produce is subject to random pesticide analysis. If the levels are too high, then the supermarket can’t charge the premium price. Is there some sort of chemical signature in free range eggs and poultry? If not, then it’s: Caveat emptor!
I went into a shop last week and asked:”How much are these range chicken eggs?”
He replied: “They’re FREE range chicken eggs!”
“Gee, thanks,” I answered, grabbed a dozen and walked out.
You mean enviros can lie?
I grew up on a egg farm. Early on (1950s) it was fairly close to what is called free range. From there it moved to barn and then cage. This was done for efficiency of course. I have thought for many years the public is being scammed with free range eggs. The most important point is the use of lights and not having the flock disturbed. With lights the bird is fooled into thinking it is laying season all year. Maybe it is because of this stress but such birds will stop laying if they scared or other factors disturb them. Go to a egg farm and you find wind breaks plus isolation from the surrounds. In a free range situation it is difficult to do this. You have to constantly guard against predators, foxes, hawks, feral cats etc. Egg collection is a large problem hens hide eggs and will attack those collecting. Also the eggs are dirtier which requires more cleaning. Hens will also kill other hens hence they have their beaks clipped. Another factor is that with cages you can more easily eliminate unproductive hens.
My guess is that genuine free range eggs will be so expensive that most could not afford them. Maybe $10 to $20 a dozen? If effective pressure is brought to bear on this the prices will rise to around those levels. This will cause production to drop dramatically along with a large contraction in the number of farms. Which is probably the desired outcome for organisations like PETA.
I accept that egg production can be thought of as cruel and inhumane but I doubt there is a viable alternative. So if it worries you have your own hens or don’t eat eggs. If you look hard enough you will find this everywhere in the food industry. If you personify with the animals we eat then probably you should be a vegan. Then again do plants suffer as we eat them alive?
dhmo wrote:
“If you personify with the animals we eat then probably you should be a vegan. Then again do plants suffer as we eat them alive?”
That reminds me… As a counterpoint to a popular vegetarian meme, Paula McMasters, an old hiking buddy from college, embroidered a very unPC message on her hat: If you like plants, don’t eat them!
Larry “If you like plants, don’t eat them!” hmmm I wonder how many still living have adopted that? Do plants have rights? Probably only the cute ones. Let us start a campaign to stop Polar Bears killing to eat. The cruelty of it must be stopped, it is shocking. Perhaps they could be persuaded to eat tofu. I hope tofu plants are not cute and don’t have names. Make sure you don’t touch my pet soy bean bush Soysie. Perhaps concerned citizens could be given those cute Polar Bears to train to be vegans. Could solve a lot of problems!
I wouldn’t be surprised if polar bears could survive on a vegan diet, subject to the same Vitamin B-12 caveat as for humans. But you may have to force-feed the tofu to them!
However cougars–and other members of the cat family–have an additional dietary problem. Since they can’t synthesize Arachidonic Acid from other fatty acids, cougars are “obligate carnivores”. I don’t know of any plants that synthesize AA. So please remember to feed the bacon grease to your pet wanna-be-vegetarian cougar after you’re through eating your breakfast.
“You mean enviros can lie?” You are the liar.
Selling eggs is a business transaction, nothing to do with your politics.
“You mean enviros can lie?”
The real question: Can enviros tell the truth?