Interview:
Egg Industry Editor Dr. Charles Olentine

Dr. Olentine is an expert on the egg industry and serves as editor of Egg Industry magazine, which provides "news for the egg industry worldwide." Below are Dr. Olentine's verbatim answers to COK's ten-question interview.

COK: Have the undercover investigations in Minnesota, Maryland, and Ohio affected the egg industry? If so, how?

Dr. Charles Olentine: It is natural that nobody likes to see themselves in the media in an unfavorable light. "Undercover" carries a less-than-honest connotation and as such it has stirred the ire of the industry.

The industry does realize it is under a close scrutiny on the welfare issues and is becoming more proactive in identifying and addressing welfare-related issues. It is industry's desire to address these issues in a science-based discussion rather than one of emotion. In that respect, the commercial egg industry as a whole is paying a lot more attention to welfare than in the past (or in many respects, much more so than other livestock industries).

COK: Are the conditions found by the investigations of Michael Foods (Minn.), ISE-America (Md.), Buckeye (Ohio), and Daylay (Ohio) egg farms considered problematic by the egg industry?

C.O.: See above.

COK: Do U.S. egg producers consider the animal rights movement a threat?

C.O.: We need to differentiate between animal welfare and animal rights. The egg industry is paying more and more attention to bird welfare and I believe the industry recognizes to a large extent that providing an environment that eliminates or minimizes stress is in their best interest. A bird that is under any stress cannot attain its full productive potential.

Animal rights is a more philosophical discussion than welfare and this is where I think the industry has problems with animal rights activists. It is hard to establish absolutes when debating philosophical issues.

COK: How have the fast-food chains' new welfare regulations affected the egg industry? How have they affected laying hens?

C.O.: All of agriculture is seeing a changing paradigm when looking at regulations. In the past, agricultural firms (be they commercial egg producers or grain producers) felt that the federal or state governments provided the lead in dictating production practices. That is all changing now. The customers of agriculture, be they the McDonalds or our worldwide trading partners, are now dictating more and more of the rules.

What makes this difficult for agriculture is a lack of uniformity from firm to firm in what the regulations are. This means that trade associations and representatives such as FMI are playing vital roles in working with as many stakeholders as possible to establish uniform regulations in this area.

I will give the United Egg Producers a lot of credit in that they have recognized the need to address bird welfare issues and having taken a proactive role in setting up industry-wide standards. These standards will be modified and fine-tuned as more data from research comes in.

COK: Do you foresee a ban on battery cages in the United States? Why or why not?

C.O.: In the near future, it is my opinion (and I should stress mine) that cages will always play a role in egg production. How the cages are designed and stocking densities will change but the positives far outnumber the negatives. When birds are taken out of cages, a whole new set of welfare dynamics take place related to factors such as health and behavior.

There are now growing niche markets for organic and free-range eggs in the US and a segment of the consumer market is willing to pay premiums for these eggs. However, as with any niche market, the total market size is probably relatively small. I am a firm believer in the free-market system. Markets should offer choices, and the demand will dictate net returns.

We have seen a lot of discussion of banning cages in Europe. I think we can learn a lot from their experiences. Sweden is now reviewing its stance on battery cages as their experience with trying to go cage-free has not been as successful as they hoped. Germany is banning cages altogether. We will see a very large number of egg operations cease production as the cage-free economic model may not be sustainable. The Germans will see many of their eggs in the future come from other countries where cage systems are allowed.

COK: Does the suffering of laying hens matter? Does the industry do anything to lessen their suffering?

C.O.: Of course it matters. Commercial egg operators are actively addressing welfare issues. Take for example, genetics. The layers of today are far different from those in the past. Size and behavior are just two areas of genetics that have focused on welfare-related issues. Some strains of layers now have been selected for their calm behavior therein eliminating the need for beak trimming. The bird of today is generally smaller than those of the past.

Cage designers are now designing cages (especially in Europe) that take into consideration behavioral traits of birds such as providing perches and sand baths.

COK: Do hens kept in battery cages have good lives?

C.O.: We are getting philosophical again here. How does one measure happiness or degree of "goodness"? As a human I can live in a big house, have an affluent lifestyle and still may not have a "good" life.

In the context of egg production, we need to provide an environment that is as stress-free as possible. We also need to define stress and learn new methods to measure it. Stresses come in all forms; the mere act of laying eggs is a form of stress. However, we need to monitor and provide an environment where such areas as air and water quality, feed quality, freedom from heat or cold, freedom from disease and parasites and stocking densities are taken into consideration.

COK: Does forced molting cause hens to suffer?

C.O.: The egg industry realizes that the issue of molting is a hot and emotional topic. It is a physiological phenomenon that allows the bird to recuperate from the demands of egg laying and to prepare for a new cycle. Feed deprivation is a practice that many consumers find objectionable. As such, the industry is sponsoring research to find alternative ways of inducing molting. At WATT Publishing's Summit on Bird Welfare, we saw promising research from the University of Illinois in this area.

I think over time either the industry will find new ways of inducing molting or you will see the practice stop.

COK: Are there any egg industry practices with which you have ethical objections?

C.O.: It is in the best interest of any egg operation to minimize stress and take the best care of the birds as possible. Additionally, suppliers to the industry are addressing welfare concerns. I honestly believe that the vast majority of commercial egg producers are doing their best to monitor the environment in which their birds are kept.

However, when I see instances where operators are not taking the best interests of their birds to heart, I do have a problem. Fortunately, these are the exceptions rather than the rule. The fact is that bad practices impact the bottom line. In an industry where profits are measured in cents per dozen, those who abuse the system are destined to fail economically.

COK: Do you see the "free range" egg market expanding? If so, will that expansion help laying hens?

C.O.: Market factors will determine whether this niche grows. If the producers of free-range eggs can get the price premiums to insure a profit, you will see expansion. Looking at Europe, we have seen an evolution whereby this sector has grown significantly. You can rest assured if the demand and returns are there, this type of production will grow.

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