Poultry welfare – problems and research to solve them

In Western Europe public awareness of ethical problems associated with farm animal production began to be seriously aroused in 1964 by the publication of Ruth Harrison's book Animal Machines. Although the restriction imposed by the battery cage system on laying hens was seen as a major cause for concern, it was not until the mid-1970s that applied research into improved or alternative production systems for laying hens began. Following initial...