Farmer's Weekly (South Africa)
Comfort in cages
This article looked at design and construction features that could improve the welfare of hens in layer cages.
Without getting involved in the overseas debate about the welfare of layers, farmers might well consider existing cages and look for features that are likely to enhance the wellbeing of the birds, without adversely affecting efficient and economic egg production.
Well-managed cages are generally superior to most other systems in terms of cleanliness and health, mainly because the birds are not in contact with their droppings.
Examine birds in cages, and you’ll find that they will usually have clean feet and feathers, with only a small proportion of the eggs soiled.
To maximise this benefit, it is important to avoid any manure-holding areas inside the cage, especially around the edges and along partitions and supports.
As long as they are kept clear of obstructions, cage floors are constantly polished clean by the birds’ feet.
Any build-up of manure can lead to internal parasites and enteric diseases. An example is when continuous manure belts are allowed to return so that their undersides (contaminated with ineffectively scraped droppings) form the roofs of the cages beneath.
Generally, smooth edges and surfaces within cages are beneficial, and good galvanising of metal parts and the increasing use of plastics are important in this respect.
The more open the front of the cage, the better. Horizontal rather than vertical bars are now offered by some cage manufacturers, and are well worth considering when replacing or buying new equipment.
Feather loss in cages is a problem that affects both the appearance of the stock and their feed-conversion efficiency.
Some combination of abrasion and feather pecking appears to be the cause of this plumage deterioration, so smooth surfaces and open access to feeders and drinkers would be beneficial.
Cages with solid sides and backs have been shown in some studies to reduce or delay feather loss. They cost about the same as mesh partitions and are often advocated.
AN IMPORTANT DETAIL
However, this overlooks a vital point. Solid sides and backs may be an advantage in environmentally controlled houses with powered ventilation. But in houses with open sides, these solid partitions act as barriers to a free flow of fresh air, and can make the micro-environment in the cages several degrees hotter than in cage stacks made entirely of mesh.
This is an economically important factor at times when the ambient temperature rises. It causes loss of appetite, overconsumption of water, and a reduction in daily egg output.
A critical aspect of the design and construction of cages is that they should be totally free of potential traps.
Occupants can be trapped and sometimes injured by being caught by their claws, toes, feathers, wings, beaks, combs, wattles or heads in various parts of the cage.
Whereas we might debate the effects of space, for example, on bird welfare, there is no doubt that a trapped and/or injured bird is at a serious disadvantage.
A classic example is the ‘V-trap’. This may occur in many parts of the cage where divisions or wires join, but the most common is where the cage partitions and floors meet.
Floors sag under the mass of the layers, thus opening a gap between the division and the floor opening that is widest at the point of maximum sag and narrows towards the front and back of the cage.
A bird’s head, foot or wing can pass through the gap at its widest part, and become securely trapped when the bird moves forwards or backwards to where the space narrows.
To avoid this, cage partitions should pass through the floor or, better still, be firmly fixed to the floor to eliminate any risk of a gap being created over time by the mass and movement of the occupants.
Another trap frequently encountered in cages is where the anti-egg-eating baffle plate doesn’t quite reach the side of the cage.
MIXED BLESSING
Birds also tend to push their heads, necks and shoulders under the sloping plate in an effort to reach eggs in the collecting area. The baffle is a mixed blessing; a longer floor that protrudes further forward is usually a better countermeasure to egg eating.
Returning to the baffle that isn’t wide enough to extend right across the cage, hens sometimes try to get out through the gaps and are inevitably caught between the sloping plate and the flexible side partition.
This can be avoided by opting for designs in which continuous baffles serve a whole row of cages.
The 2022 Cape Wine Auction took place in mid-February and, in partnership with Mastercard, raised more than R12,2 million for charity.
Held at the luxurious Quoin Rock Wine Estate near Stellenbosch, the auction saw guests bidding generously for various once-in-a-lifetime lots.
FIERCELY CONTESTED LOTS
The day’s highest bid of R1,2 million was for Lot 17, sponsored by Spier Wine Farm, which included a threenight getaway for eight people in the Bazaruto Archipelago off the coast of Mozambique, courtesy of &Beyond Benguerra Island, a luxury retreat.
Other lots included the Best of British Lot 18, which comprised golf, horse racing, and tickets to a Premier League football match; Lot 7, Celebrating Goodness, with wine, dining and travel experiences in South Africa and France; and Lot 14, a week’s stay in Tuscany, Italy.
The Gift of the Giving lots also brought in a significant amount of money. These were straightforward donations made to charitable causes, with no prizes handed out in return, and comprised five donations of
R10 000, five donations of R25 000, five of R50 000, and one donation of R100 000.
The annual Cape Wine Auction event has raised in excess of R117 million since it was introduced in 2014, with 100% of proceeds managed by The Cape Wine Auction Trust and distributed amongst carefully selected beneficiaries.
FOR THE CHILDREN
“We are delighted with this year’s results, especially in light of the tough economic times we are going through,” says Darielle Robertson, director of The Cape Wine Auction.
“Because of the funds raised, The Cape Wine Auction Trust can continue its invaluable work with its beneficiaries, all of whom are dedicated to improving the education and lives of the children living in the Cape Winelands.
“We’d like to give a big thank you to all of our partners, especially Mastercard, and to those who bid generously for the amazing lots that were so kindly donated by many,” she adds.
Kamini Redhi, director of marketing and communications at Mastercard sub-Saharan Africa, says: “We’re delighted by the response to this year’s auction, which aligns with our brand purpose of connecting everyone to priceless possibilities.
“Being part of such an exclusive event, one that harnesses the power of doing good to transform children’s lives through educational and social support, is a great honour,” she says.
The Cape Wine Auction
Send your letters to: farmersweekly@caxton.co. za, or Farmer’s Weekly, PO Box 1797, Pinegowrie 2123, SA. The views and opinions expressed on the letters page do not necessarily reflect those of Farmer’s Weekly or Caxton. Readers’ letters will be published and edited at the sole discretion of Farmer’s Weekly.