Free Range Definition Nz

Industry associations such as the New Zealand Egg Farmers` Federation, the Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand and New Zealand Pork represent all producers, from intensive cage and crate farmers to outdoor producers. These bodies are not interested in introducing clear labelling systems indicating the different production methods, because they know that kiwi is against cruelty to animals and that clear labelling would penalise the intensive producers they represent. Eggs from free-range hens are quite common in most supermarkets. Are they really better? Birds used in open-air farms are the same „fast-growing“ breeds used on conventional chicken meat farms, so they experience similar explosive growth. This leads to a high prevalence of painful lameness, joint collapse and respiratory and heart problems. The K&M and Sunset farms are owned by Carl Ebbers, who guarantees they are free of antibiotics, hormones, genetic engineering and sprays. More importantly, terms such as „outdoors“ or „outdoors“ do not always guarantee good animal welfare. Always look for an independent and trustworthy third-party certification on the product label, such as the SPCA Certified, AsureQuality or BioGro logos. The Animal Welfare Code for Laying Hens states that free-range chickens must have access to an outdoor area.

The outdoor stocking density is limited to 2500 birds per hectare – or one hen per 4m2 – but the code does not set a maximum herd size. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission told egg producers: „The size of the flock largely determines each hen`s ability to access outdoor space. Since large flocks must be kept in larger poultry houses, this means that a hen must travel farther and navigate past lesser-known chickens to reach an open side or poor hole. „The main thing that distinguishes organic eggs from pasture-raised eggs and free-range (real) eggs is that the hens live on a certified organic farm and eat 100% certified organic food themselves – so you can too. Most free-range chickens are killed at the same age as caged chickens (between 12 and 18 months). The natural life span of a hen is about 10 years. One of the main reasons why organic eggs cost much more than free-range farming is that certified organic feed is naturally more expensive than conventional foods, which are only „cheap“ because they use artificial chemicals and fertilizers to cut costs (to the detriment of our environment and health). Open-air commercial farms can only accommodate a few hundred to several thousand birds. Their free-range eggs may have been laid by a small flock of frolicking hens. But the majority of the major egg brands on the market come from flocks of at least 4,000 people. Mainland Poultry, the name behind the Farmer Brown and Woodland brands, said its free-range herds numbered between 4,000 and 8,000 chickens (see our table „free-range eggs“). About 2% of birds are raised in the wild.

Chickens raised in the open air for meat have access to an outdoor space for the last two to three weeks of their lives before being killed around six weeks of age. Many people opt for free-range eggs and meat because they hope that free-range animals will have a better life than farm animals. However, there are welfare concerns in all forms of animal husbandry and animals are killed well below their natural lifespan. We also sell eggs from free-range hens from Sunset Farms, also near Pukekohe. Sunset Farms eggs are real free-range hens. They feed their chickens with local greens and conventional cereals. Chickens graze daily on 6.7 m2 of pasture per bird. This means that their chickens include a decent amount of feed in their diet and enjoy a healthy outdoor life. Eggs from free-range hens are not organic, and there is no guarantee that they do not come primarily from dwellings with „access“ to their range. However, if an outdoor egg farmer uses high-quality feed, strives to ensure that the birds have plenty of time outdoors and that his farm is free of sprays and other toxins, then they could be quite good. There`s no way to know for sure, but if it`s a local farm, it`ll be easier to know and trust your farmer. Free-range chickens need access to both a barn and nature during the day.

Outdoor rearing simply means that laying hens have „access“ to the outdoor space at least 4 m2 per bird. „Access“ means that chickens can go out if they wish. But if they are fed indoors, which they often do, most chickens will probably not be outside for more than an hour a day. If you don`t know the local farmer who raised them, it could mean that your free-range chicken eggs may not be much better than traditional barn eggs. An egg from free-range hens is laid in a barn environment that allows hens to exit through „pop holes“. Potholes must meet certain criteria to ensure that chickens have adequate access to the outdoors. In a survey conducted by SAFE, 8 out of 10 New Zealanders said they were interested in buying eggs from free-range hens. As more and more information about the horrors of battery ownership is revealed, it`s no surprise that the majority of us like to know that the eggs we eat come from happy, healthy chickens that can move freely outdoors instead of living their lives in scathing, claustrophobic cages. Unfortunately, SAFE estimates that 88% of eggs produced in New Zealand are kept in cages. How can New Zealanders who care about it make sure that the eggs they eat are really outdoors? SPCA certified accreditation approves barn and outdoor production systems after an initial assessment by a SPCA representative and independent verification by a third party. All free-range egg farms must comply with the Animal Welfare (Laying Hens) Code 2018, which is administered by MPI in New Zealand and developed by the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC). Pastures are free of spray, GMO crops cannot be grown, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides must not be used, leaving unpleasant soil and residues found in eggshells, such as DDT and glysophates.

This means that chickens eat 100% organic and live in a 100% organic environment, so their eggs are guaranteed organic. Unlike chickens, which are limited to battery cages and colonies, free-range chickens have access to the outdoors. Although the life of a free-range hen is generally better than that of a caged chicken, free-range farming systems still pose many animal welfare issues. Other producers have buildings with a similar number of birds (see our table „Free-range chickens“). Tegel, the largest producer of poultry meat, has between 10,000 and 35,000 flocks. Since the Animal Welfare Code for „laying hens“ does not set basic standards for free-range eggs, there are no minimum requirements regarding the size of outdoor spaces or the suitability of these outdoor spaces for chickens. There is also no determination of the maximum number of chickens per flock. Therefore, the quality of life of a hen raised in the open air on one holding may differ significantly from that of a hen on another outdoor holding. In terms of taste and quality, 59% of consumers who buy eggs from free-range hens said they taste better than other eggs, while 63% think they are also of better quality. The majority (53%) of free-range chickens thought they also tasted better; 56% thought it was better quality meat. „Cageless“ eggs or stale eggs are similar, except that chickens are on the floor of a barn with 7 chickens per m2 instead of in cages.

Bostock Brothers was the only free-range chicken meat producer to raise smaller flocks of 2500 to 6000 birds. This means that the scope of an „outdoor hen label“ on your eggs is actually very wide. Despite the idea of happy chickens wandering a field, the „free-range“ label can still be used by farms that confine their chickens in small spaces or expose them to overpopulation, cutting off their beaks and coloring their food (to make the yolks more yellow). In 2014, it was revealed that a farmer had been selling free-range eggs for more than two years – something that remained under the radar because there was no agency verifying such claims. The animal industry in New Zealand does not have its own certifications on the ground, as this would highlight the different animal welfare standards in different production systems. Growing consumer demand is driving the industry to increase its investment in outdoor operations with more brands on store shelves. However, while companies are eager to rebuild their external credentials, consumer confidence in the claims remains low. However, in some situations, these external claims can be misleading. When you think of outdoor chooks, what do you have in mind? Our recent survey found that most consumers believe that outdoor farming should mean that birds spend most of their days outdoors in small groups.