design and construction of a battery cage (3rd edition)

Description

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Approval Page

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Table of Content

CHAPTER ONE

1.0      Introduction

1.1      Background of the project

1.2      Problem statement

1.3      Objective of the project

1.4      Scope of the project

1.5      Purpose of the project

1.6     Significance of the project

1.7      Problem of the project

1.8      Limitation of the project

1.9      Project organisation

CHAPTER TWO

2.0     Literature review

CHAPTER THREE

3.1     Material and method

CHAPTER FOUR

RESULT ANALYSIS

4.1      result and discussion

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0      Conclusion

5.1      Recommendation

5.2      References

 

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                        INTRODUCTION

1.1                                           BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The expressed attitude and actual choices of consumers towards purchase of eggs often turn out to be contradictory (Parrott, 2004). When consumers were asked what they considered the most important factor when making their decision to buy eggs, results showed that they ranked ‘type of egg production system’ highest, followed by ‘ date’, ‘ assurance of freshness’ and finally ‘price’ (Parrott, 2004). But only 24.3% of consumers actually checked how the eggs were produced. This highlights that the consumer knowledge of the production methods is limited and that their views are not necessarily reflected in their behavior in a purchasing situation.

The consumer’s willingness to pay for a specific husbandry category of eggs also depends very much on the local region in which they live. A study in Denmark showed that consumers in an urban area (Copenhagen) were more willing to pay for free-range and organic eggs; in fact their results were 25-30% above the average for the whole of Denmark. In rural areas, however, consumer willingness was ~ 50% below the Danish average, and vice versa for conventional cage eggs (Baltzer, 2004). This could be the result of difference in mentality, with urban consumers in general more oriented towards the organic ideology. The results, which are based on supermarket sales figures, can hide an actually higher consumption of free-range and organic eggs in rural areas since more people have the opportunity either to keep laying hens in their own backyard or to buy eggs from local farmers. These private egg sales and consumption would therefore not appear in the sales statistics. Recent research into the differences in consumer decision making and behavior with regard to organic food showed that there are differences in behavioural intentions between the North and the South of Europe (Thoegersen, 2009). The most important factors behind these differences seem to be policy implications, e.g. political support, environmental concerns and food culture. In southern Europe, the marketing channels of the organic sector are dominated by direct marketing via specialized shops, whereas in the north of Europe most of the sales are concentrated in supermarkets (> 60%) and in non-specialist shops (European Commission, 2005b). This naturally increases the accessibility of organic foods for consumers in the northern countries.

The study by Baltzer (2004) also found that the effect on the Danish market of advertising and offering organic eggs at a bargain price was much lower than for cage eggs, barn eggs and free-range eggs, indicating that the market for organic eggs is less price-driven than the other egg types.

The conclusion is that in order to increase the market share of free range and organic eggs the importance of an effective distribution system is emphasized, and that a good supply of these egg types may be able to create their own demand.

1.2                                                  PROBLEM STATEMENT

Housing systems in organic farming should allow poultry access to a free range area where they find a wider range of feed stuff, including green forages, insects and worms, and are able to express their natural social realized. Traditionally, poultry on organic farms were kept in small flocks and housing systems with very low stocking densities. However, over the last two decades, the number of larger commercial organic poultry farms with higher stocking densities and larger flock sizes has increased. Nowadays, large organic poultry farms are showing the same trends with regard to stocking densities and housing systems as conventional farms, except that farm sizes are still smaller and maximum flock sizes are limited by organic farming standards.

Higher stocking densities and flock sizes on organic poultry farms were made possible by the development of new housing systems. In the 1980s, research was carried out in conventional farming to develop alternative systems to battery cages, when these became of increasing concern to consumers. These new systems aimed to provide conditions essential for normal poultry realized, including daylight, sufficient space per bird, appropriate litter, perches and egg-laying areas with suitable nesting facilities. These new housing systems provided significant advantages with regard to animal welfare. For example, access to perches, from not later than the age of four weeks, decreases the prevalence of floor eggs and the occurrence of cloacal cannibalism and feather pecking (Gunnarsson et al., 1999).

However, it was also realized that the poultry farmers who worked with larger stocks in these new housing systems need to have more experience than those running rural poultry housing systems or battery cages. In ‘free range’ and organic laying hen husbandry systems, close attention must be paid to litter management. Hauser and Fölsch (2002) found the lowest dust concentrations in battery cages. The significantly lower dust concentration in battery farming is due to the lack of a scratching floor and dust bath. Optimum litter management can reduce the dust content in aviary systems (Carlucci et al., 2014).

Hauser and Fölsch (2012) also found that there are no differences in the microbiological quality of eggs from four different farming systems. In their investigation, 7 of 16 units had littered nests. Littered nests are closest to the natural nest established by wild fowl (the closest relative to domesticated chicken), which scratch a small cavity on the floor, sit in it and use loose material from the surrounding area to build a nest.

1.3                                    AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The main aim of this study is to build a modern-type of battery cage for chicken rearing. The objectives are:

1. To build the system with available locally made materials with feeders that Minimize Feed Spillage.
2. To boosts the Health of the Chickens

• To provide more care for the chickens

1.4                                                   SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this work is to build a modern type of poultry battery cage which is housing systems which are mostly used for chicken rearing.  The term was derived from the arrangement of similarly-looking cages in rows and columns closely knitted together with same divider walls like the cells of a battery.

1.5                                                  RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. How does a battery cage work?
2. Are battery cages still used?

• What are disadvantages of battery cage?

1. What is point of cage in layers?

1.6                                              LIMITATON OF THE STUDY

1. It reduces the roaming space of chicken to move around.
2. The cost of production or fabrication of the battery cage is high compare to traditional method of egg production.

1.7                                           SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

According to Department for the Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (2010), over 60% of the world’s eggs were produced in industrial systems, mostly using battery cages, including over two thirds in the world. This study will provide a clear knowledge of animal welfare, animal rights and industrial producers.