Maro Ibarbaru shares several challenges the poultry industry must meet to accomplish the transitions to cage-free production. Beyond the economic challenges, there are concerns about animal welfare, higher mortality, disease and parasite control as well as poor feed conversion.
Source: Egg Industry, June 2019. Link.
For management to properly handle the potential health concerns associated with cage-free production moving forward, the industry will need more skilled rural workers, which could be a problem as there continues to be a labor shortage.
INSIGHTS: Note the comments about consumer acceptance of higher-cost eggs and the resulting sale of premium cage-free eggs at a non-premium price. Meeting consumer demand responsibly and predictably is not as easy as speaking the words. Eventually, consumers must pay the costs of the expansion.