RDA Develops Animal-friendly ‘Multistage Egg-laying Hen Facilities’

Egg in the Next Box (The image is not related to the article) (image: Flcikr, by The Garden Smallholder (Karen Jackson))

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SEOUL, Korea, July 26 (Korea Bizwire) – The Rural Development Administration (RDA) has announced the development of ‘multistage egg-laying hen facilities’ that not only increases the effectiveness of breeding and decreases the amount of labor of farmers, but also enhances the welfare of animals by allowing the animals to behave naturally. 

Since 2012, the government has awarded ‘certifications for stockbreeding farmhouses that care about animal welfare’ to egg-laying hen farms. To be awarded the certification, farms not only have to meet specific specifications regarding how many animals can be kept in a certain amount of space, but also must not use cages and provide an environment in which hens can roam freely. 

The ‘multistage egg-laying hen facilities’ developed by the National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) within the RDA use spaces more efficiently, and can breed about two times as many hens compared to other farms with the same amount of space. Also by automatizing the egg-gathering process and using manure belts, the work load of farmers can be reduced immensely. In addition, by installing certain structures these farms offer an environment in which hens can act as naturally as possible. 

Jeon Joong-whan, a researcher at the NIAS said, “The ‘multistage egg-laying hen facility’ cares for animal welfare while also automatizing the egg-production process. In particular, children visiting the farms can experience farm animal breeding as well as learn the preciousness of life by watching hens flock up and down from perches and other structures.”

Policy@koreabizwire.com