Free Range Farming

Animal farming, an unresolved issue

Traditionally it was accepted that animal welfare was linked to production rates, as Woods (2012) says, “Animals will not thrive if they are unhappy”. While this may seem to represent a happy balance between animal welfare and profitability, the reality is often very different. Intensive farms consist typically of large animal populations concentrated insmall indoor spaces, providing less than optimal conditions for the animals. Workers are often unqualified and paid minimum wages (Rollin, 2009). One example of the consequences of this practice is chickens continuing to lay eggs when afflicted with severe foot lesions (Pearson, 1983).

Concern for animal welfare and the opportunity of new markets has lead to a rise in the popularity of extensivefarming, a form of agriculture that has been around from the beginning of our relationship with farm animals. In this system there is a higher input of labour, and larger areas of land. Animals are allowed to gaze in the fields and they can meet their psychological, biological needs and nature (Rollin, 2009). Economic, welfare and consumer aspects of Intensive and extensive farming practices willnow be compared.

The economics in both systems play an important roll at the time of decision making for farmers. When considering the economics of both systems, it seems that the average protein intake for most people is relatively constant, but the type of protein consumed is determined by price. In other words a customer may chose chicken over beef, if chicken is cheaper, causing the beefindustry to suffer. Therefore industry bodies are extremely reluctant to accept any changes that may affect their competiveness within the industry (Stricklin, 2011).

In the eggs industry however, these are considered to stand-alone from other items, and the number of eggs purchased per capita is relatively independent of price (Appleby, Mench, & Hughes, 2004). From this standpoint the eggindustry is unlikely to be greatly affect from changing from intensive methods to extensive. In fact there have always been some consumers who are prepared to pay more for eggs as they perceive they are getting better quality. (Appleby et al, 2004).

When analysing the production cost versus capital costs, intensive farming systems generally require more complex and expensive infrastructure,but have lower ongoing costs than extensive farming systems (Appleby et al, 2004). Since the effect of cost seems to have a negative impact on the consumers in most cases, farmers are more likely to favour intensive farming systems on economic grounds.

Animal welfare has been severely affected since the beginnings of extensive farming. The separation between the animals and their keepers has hadserious implications, where animals have become a unit of production and their welfare has been degraded (Serpell, 1986). The welfare of any animal has many factors. Any single element cannot be taken in isolation to make an overall assessment of welfare.

In the case of egg production, it is impossible to generalise regarding the welfare status of birds in alternative systems (extensive) tocages systems (intensive) based on single factors. Both can cause issues in regard to disease and mortality, and some cases cages offer advantages.

The five freedom as called for by the UK Animal Welfare Council, are:
1. Freedom from hunger and thirst.
2. Freedom from thermal and physical discomfort.
3. Freedom from pain, injury and disease.
4. Freedom from fear and distress.5. Freedom to exercise most normal patterns of behaviour. (Appleby, & Hughes, 1991)

In all systems of egg production (including free range) there is potential for disease, especially if large flock sizes are employed. Cages however also appear to miss out on two more of these categories, in that the birds are unable to exercise normal behaviours and suffer from pain and injury due to a...