tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30369024.post2958818506336460416..comments2024-01-23T21:55:22.044+11:00Comments on Free Range Eggs: Biosecurity problems led to avian influenza outbreaksfreerangerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14744888607623546872noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30369024.post-77261652576344295052013-12-09T14:31:15.860+11:002013-12-09T14:31:15.860+11:00We are still hoping that consumer pressure will le...We are still hoping that consumer pressure will lead to modification of the major supermarket plans for intensive 'free range' production. We have basically given up on the politicians because (with a few exceptions) they don't want to take any action. They prefer to leave things to 'market forces' which means big business.<br />The ACCC has the power to act and there are expections that things will happen before the end of the year. freerangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14744888607623546872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30369024.post-2476261765423664272013-12-09T09:55:07.166+11:002013-12-09T09:55:07.166+11:00The real issue here is that these large operations...The real issue here is that these large operations are an artificial construct designed solely to exploit the current lack of a legal definition of 'free range'. They are a compromise between state of the art egg production and real free range giving us the worst of both systems. <br /><br />If these farms were barnlaid then the performance of the birds would improve and the risk of bird flu would be exponentially reduced. It is insanity to have multi-million dollar cage plants sitting next to stinky converted free range sheds. It is just a desperate attempt by the producers to make more money by having free range birds with 200% production rates!<br /><br />There is no need to discuss the risk of avian influenza in free range if the code was observed. None of these farms would allow their hens outside if they lost their ability to sell their eggs as free range. They are not doing it for the birds' benefit, they are doing it to make money.<br /><br />You know why we are getting ai in free range flocks where we weren’t before? Simple, the big guys are under far more pressure to actually let the birds out. They never used to, some still don’t. Now they are forced to let them out we are actually seeing the environmental degradation which was obviously going to happen and it is a very inviting environment for wild birds. The solution is simple; stop letting the birds out.<br /> <br />Clearly the supermarkets have no issue with the dust bowl moonscapes they are certifying. There is no real issue with dustbowls but, as you know, that quickly becomes a manure riddled mudscape after rain. Here is your disease breeding ground and it is an indictment on everyone that this sort of situation is allowed to fester.<br /><br />These big operators run their shedding with precision but letting the hens outside is just a nuisance add-on to get accreditation. It is a huge risk for not only them but realistically, as we have seen at Young, the food security of the nation.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com