AR-News: (AU) But the RSPCA jury is divided

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

The pros and cons of various farming methods have the animal welfare body at 
odds.
At the heart of the RSPCA's position on the chicken industry, as stated by 
its national head, Dr Hugh Wirth, is that no animal should ever be kept confined 
too close or too crowded.
"Our demarcation is when the animal that is confined can't perform its normal 
behaviours. That is, it can't flap its wings, turn around or walk," Wirth 
says.
So far, all 35 egg production operations given the RSPCA tick have been 
barn-laid facilities. Only one free-range operation has been certified by the 
RSPCA, and cage facilities are an anathema to it.
The RSPCA's official position is that it is opposed to even the new 
generation of caged-hen facilities, such as the Pace Farm at West Wyalong. This is 
despite the fact that these new facilities do allow the birds much more space than 
previous cages.



full story:

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/22/1079939578346.html 
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