Comprehensive Analysis of Cage And Flat Chicken Models From A Professional Perspective

In modern poultry farming, the choice of feeding method directly affects breeding efficiency, animal welfare and product quality. Based on authoritative information from the entire network, a systematic analysis of the two main breeding methods of cage and flat is conducted to provide professional reference for farm decision-making.

1. Basic concepts and current status of cage and flat breeding

① Cage system refers to a breeding method in which chickens are kept in layered cages made of metal or plastic. According to statistics from the International Poultry Association in 2022, about 65% of commercial laying hens in the world are caged, and this proportion is as high as 78% in Asia. The cage system has been popular since the 1950s and has become a mainstream breeding model with its high space utilization and convenient management.

② Flat system refers to a breeding method in which chickens move freely on open ground or litter. According to different breeding environments, floor farming can be further divided into:

- Litter Floor

- Net/Slatted Floor

- Free Range

- Organic

③ The proportion of floor farming in European countries is relatively high, especially Switzerland and Austria, which have completely banned traditional cage farming. The proportion of floor farming in Norway has reached 85%. In recent years, with the improvement of animal welfare concepts, the proportion of floor farming in the world has shown a slow upward trend.

2. Comparison of technical parameters between cage and floor farming

① Space requirements and breeding density

Cage system:

- Traditional cage: Each laying hen occupies a cage area of 450-550cm² (EU standard is 550cm²/hen)

- Enriched cage: 750cm²/hen or more, equipped with perches, egg-laying nests and other facilities

- Breeding density: 15-20/m² (building area)

Floor farming system:

- Floor farming with litter: 7-9/m² (EU regulations stipulate a maximum of 9/m²)

- Free range: 4/m² (indoor) + 4m²/hen (outdoor)

- Organic farming: 6/m² (indoor) + 10m²/hen (outdoor)

*Data source: FAO Poultry Production Guide (2021 edition), EU Directive 1999/74/EC*②Production performance

According to the comparative study of the United States Department of Agriculture in 2020 (sample size 2 million):

- Egg production rate: caged chickens lay an average of 310-320 eggs per year, and floor-raising systems lay 290-300 eggs

- Feed conversion rate: caged chickens 1:2.1-2.3, floor-raising 1:2.3-2.5

- Mortality rate: caged chickens have an average monthly rate of 4-5%, and floor-raising chickens have an average monthly rate of 6-8% (especially feather pecking and fighting cause a higher mortality rate)

③Labor demand

The cage system has a high degree of automation, and one worker can manage 30,000 to 50,000 chickens; the floor-raising system requires more manual intervention (litter management, egg collection, etc.), and one worker is suitable for managing 10,000 to 20,000 chickens.

3. Comprehensive analysis of the pros and cons of the two breeding methods

Advantages of cage system:

①Disease control: reduce contact with feces, reduce the risk of parasitic infection such as coccidiosis (research shows that it can be reduced by more than 60%)

②Production efficiency: reduce feed intake by 5-8%, increase egg production by 5-10%

③Convenient management: automated egg collection (breakage rate <2%), precise feeding, convenient epidemic prevention

④Environmental control: feces can be centrally processed, ammonia emissions reduced by 30-40%

⑤Economic efficiency: short investment return cycle (usually 2-3 years), unit egg production cost is 15-20% lower

Disadvantages of cage system:

①Animal welfare controversy: limited activity space, insufficient expression of natural behavior (EU EFSA evaluation report points out that caged chickens can only complete 30% of natural behaviors)

②Bone health problems: high incidence of osteoporosis (research shows that the fracture rate of caged chickens is 3-5 times that of flat chickens)

③Product image: some markets have a declining acceptance of "caged eggs" ( European retailers have gradually stopped selling traditional caged eggs)

Advantages of the flat system:

①Animal welfare: meet the natural behaviors of chickens such as scratching, sand bathing, and socializing (in line with the AWBO animal welfare five-star standard)

②Product premium: the price of free-range eggs is usually 30-100% higher than that of caged eggs (depending on marketing differences)

③Muscle development: broiler leg muscles are more developed, and the meat quality of eliminated hens is better

④Market trend: in line with the concept of high-end consumption and sustainable development

Disadvantages of the flat system:

①Disease risk: the risk of contact infectious diseases such as coccidiosis increases by 2-3 times

②Management difficulty: the quality of litter needs to be carefully managed (humidity needs to be maintained at 25-35%)

③Production efficiency: feed waste increases by 5-10%, and egg collection efficiency is low (breakage rate 3-5%)

④Investment cost: construction cost per unit area is 30-50% higher, and labor cost increases by 40-60%

4. Professional advice and selection considerations

①The situation of choosing a cage system:

- Areas with limited land resources and high labor costs

- Price-sensitive markets as the main target

- Areas with high disease prevention and control pressure

- New farmers (relatively simple management)

Improvement suggestions: Adopt enriched cage systems, add welfare facilities such as perches and scratchers; implement a 12-16 hour/day lighting system to improve bone health.

② Situations where flat-raising systems are selected:

- Targeting high-end markets or organic food channels

- Animal welfare certification premiums (such as RSPCA certification) can be obtained

- Areas with dry climates and good ventilation

- Farms with experience in handling litter

Management points: Place 4-6 feeders per square meter to reduce competition; provide 15cm thick litter (rice husks, sawdust, etc.); regularly maintain the sand bath area.

5. Industry development trends

① The rise of welfare farming: more than 40 countries around the world have legislated to restrict traditional cage farming, and it is expected that the EU will completely ban traditional cage farming by 2030

② Technology integration: Intelligent flat farming systems are developing rapidly (automatic bedding management, robot egg collection, etc.)

③ Market differentiation: A market pattern of "cost-oriented cage farming" and "value-oriented flat farming" is formed

④ Hybrid system: For example, convertible systems (flat farming during the day and cage farming at night) have begun to be tested and promoted

No matter what farming method is chosen, the key lies in strict implementation of biosafety measures (such as all-in and all-out system), scientific nutrition plans and meticulous daily management. It is recommended that farms conduct regular third-party farming assessments, continuously optimize production systems, and find the best balance between economic benefits, animal welfare and environmental sustainability.

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