The use of chemicals, farm management, sustainability, GMOs, and factory farming are some of the most relevant ethical issues surrounding food production in New Zealand and worldwide. Caged chickens farming is part of this moral dilemma as millions of chickens are farmed in controversial settings that continue to elicit debate. Caged chickens are hens reared in enclosed spaces and denied roaming and participating in natural practices such as dust-bathing, perching, and dust-bathing. The ethical dilemma arises because, on the one hand, there is a need for optimization to feed the growing populations. But, on the other hand, it would not necessarily translate to people starving if the farming was done ethically.
A common debate about the issue of eggs from caged chickens is whether the practice is harmful to people. The truth is, Kiwis have not always consumed caged eggs as in the early 1900s, most people kept chicken in their backyard (Wintle & Lepper, 2008). The people in favor of abolishing the method seem to lean heavily on ethical treatment of animals. People typically associate the farms with a lack of light, smell, and sick chickens (Farming Affordable, n.d.).
The debate is rarely about the eggs being harmful since unhealthy chicken could be found in both free-range and caged chicken environments. This utilitarian approach focuses on the most good for both humans and animals (Utilitarian, n.d.). A critical point in the debate is differentiating clinical and ethical issues (Animal Ethics, n.d.). Therefore, caged chickens do not harm people directly, but the discussion is still legitimate from an ethical standpoint.
Another critical question is the scales of the debate; what goods or negatives are on either side of the issue. When New Zealand passed the law to ban battery-produced eggs in 10 years in 2012, Animal rights groups protested that the ban should have been implemented immediately (Tocker, 2012). The proposal is to shift from the ‘battery hens’ and retain ‘colony chickens,’ which are still controversial but a fair compromise. The government could not have banned caged hens immediately because it would have caused significant disruption in prices and market structure (Tocker, 2012). As it would seem, the debate has merits on both sides, and the very definition of a good depends on one’s school of thought.
It is essential to consider whether the issue is more than what is legal and what is efficient. Businesses require optimization of operations; there would be no debate about the inhumane conditions of caging if inanimate objects were involved. However, since animals are involved, it becomes necessary to mimic the bird’s natural environment. Any attempt to simulate a natural environment, whether through artificial nests or perching, directly translates into increased cost and price (Hutching, 2019).
In one of the highest egg-consuming countries in the world per capita, economics are vital (Affordable Nutrition, n.d.). According to one owner of the farms, the main question is about choice, and consumers should have the option. One could argue to what end it benefits a chicken to be allowed to dust-bathe if it will be slaughtered in the end.
Stakeholders are vital in deciding the next course of action. The most significant stakeholder is the consumer, who will bear the cost of increased egg prices. At the same time, most Kiwis support the ban on caged chickens and still oppose the colony system that has been left in place. Businesses are vital in shaping policy as farmers typically do not sell directly to the consumer. Many companies have stopped stocking eggs from caged eggs, which would have sufficed even without a government mandate. 2022 will be the year the caged chicken ban comes into effect; animal activists will likely push for the ban on colony chicken (Battery Cages, n.d.). The government has certainly put all parties into consideration with the compromise.
The alternative to the caged chicken system is the colony system or the free-range system. The option with the most good and the least harm is instituting a ban on colony chicken after ten years, too (Animal Welfare Campaign, 2021). This would allow the industry a soft landing and a complete shift to free-range. The best option for all stakeholders is the compromise that has banned caged chicken and given the industry time to adapt while leaving the colony system in place; this is the rights approach (Francione, 1997) and, incidentally, the justice approach (Garner, 2012).
In the long run, the common good policy is to allow only free-range; 76% of Kiwis already support the ban (Flaws, 2020). The virtue approach is a transition to veganism because if one cares about animals enough not to mistreat them, they will not eat them (Alvaro, 2017). The ultimate solution to the problem is a total ban on meat products. This final decision would not be achieved abruptly but would require time as the nation transitions from meat.
Food production topics that raise ethical debates include the use of chemicals, GMOs, and factory farming. In New Zealand, caged chicken eggs are a controversial product with a ban that comes into effect in 2022. Both sides of the debate have legitimate arguments as farmers are business people who must optimize operations to stay competitive. A shift to free-range would radically change the market structure and have unintended consequences. The government has instituted a compromise by allowing the colony system to stay in place.
References
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Alvaro, C. (2017). Ethical veganism, virtue, and greatness of the soul. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 30(6), 765–781. Web.
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Flaws, B. (2020). NZ should follow moves overseas to ban colony eggs, animal rights group says. Stuff. Web.
Francione, G. L. (1997). Animal rights theory and utilitarianism: Relative normative guidance | animal legal & historical center. Web.
Garner. (2012). Toward a theory of justice for animals. Journal of Animal Ethics, 2(1), 98. Web.
Hutching, G. (2019). New rules on hen cages and rising feed costs lift egg prices. Stuff. Web.
Tocker, A. (2012). Battery hens phased out in 10 years. Stuff. Web.
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Wintle, V., & Lepper, S. (2008). Poultry industry. Web.
Zealand farms | organic and free-range eggs. (n.d.). Web.