As usual the weekend Dominion Post paper (Dominion Post, 23/02/2009) provided some interesting reading material (as well as my rubbish bin liner for the week). In amongst an article on raising chickens in your garden was a little paragraph inset quoting Agriculture Minister David Carter. According to the article David has stated that he has no plans to change the regulations covering battery farming in NZ and that the issue will be driven by consumer demand.
It got me wondering. I’ve bought free range eggs for as long as I’ve been of the age to do my own grocery shopping but how many others are also purchasing free range? How long will hens have to wait for reasonable animal welfare standards if NZ waits for the consumer? According to the NZ healthy food guide magazine sales of free range eggs now account for 11% of all the eggs we buy in supermarkets (Feb 2009, p. 10). I don’t think the battery caged hens in NZ will be expecting liberty any day soon somehow with that small figure. So why is NZ so far behind other countries? Sainsbury’s announced this year that it will now only sell free range eggs and other big supermarkets in England will be similarly following suit (Supermarket to go free-range only – World – NZ Herald News).
Why is animal welfare such a low priority in New Zealand? Lots of good questions regarding animal welfare and farming can be sent to David if you have the time – postage to parliament is free.
If you’re interested in making life for ex- battery hens a bit more comfortable check this link out New life for battery farm hens | Otago Daily Times Online