Transitioning from Battery Cages: How Can Farmers Access Support for Humane Poultry Systems?

By emmannaemeka @ 2024-10-13T02:20 (+52)

During this Animal Welfare Debate Week, I’ve learned that the battery cage system in poultry farming can be considered a form of punishment for the birds. As a farmer currently using this system, I am eager to transition to a more humane, cage-free approach. Are there any funding or support programs available to assist farmers in making this change? If so, how can I access these resources? Thank you.

NickLaing @ 2024-10-13T08:17 (+6)

I can't help, but think this is a super important question. In Uganda here battery farmed hens are a way out of poverty for people here, and often promoted/subsidised by NGOs and big international aid. Without an economic solution (whether carrot or stick) I'm not sure how the oncoming flood of battery hen farming in Africa can be stemmed

emmannaemeka @ 2024-10-13T15:43 (+3)

I quite agree, animal welfare is not a thing here in Nigeria. It will take more than just advocacy to achieve a cage-free farming and an improved animal welfare. So my thinking is, offer support to those who want to transition to cage-free systems. Who offsets their investment?

Jason @ 2024-10-14T16:12 (+4)

I don't know the answer for sure, but I think this highlights one of the challenges to expanding the scope of AW efforts. It seems to me that corporate campaigns and the like can achieve their cost-effectiveness results because the bulk of the costs are borne by third parties, and we don't much care about the balance sheets of Big Ag or even consumers in developed countries.

Things get considerably more complex when (1) we expect the bulk of the costs to be borne by people in developing countries, and/or (2) we have to bear those costs ourselves. I think unfortunately the answer to your specific question is that there's little to no funding available for option (2).

emmannaemeka @ 2024-10-14T23:09 (+3)

I agree with you. Animal Welfare efforts expansion needs to take this into consideration especially in LMICs. What are the incentives for switching to a cage-free system?

Moritz Stumpe 🔸 @ 2024-10-21T13:45 (+1)

Thank you for your willingness to transition! I strongly recommend you reach out to the One Health and Development Initiative. They are working with farmers in Nigeria on this topic. If you don't receive a response from them, please let me know / contact us at Animal Advocacy Africa and we can make an introduction.