UK Government Announces Ambitious Animal Welfare Reforms Including Ban on Hen Cages and Pig Farrowing Crates
The UK government has unveiled a comprehensive animal welfare package aimed at significantly improving the living conditions of farmed animals. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds is set to launch a consultation next year on phasing out the remaining enriched colony cages for hens and switching to non-cage systems.
Currently, about 21% of UK hens are kept in enriched or colony cages, with each cage housing up to 90 hens. Although the cages include perches, scratch mats, and nest boxes, the space allocated per bird is approximately the size of an A4 sheet, and the birds remain confined until slaughter. The proposed changes are expected to benefit over 7 million hens and 150,000 pigs annually by outlawing both hen cages and pig farrowing crates.
The animal welfare strategy also contains measures beyond farm animals. It includes an end to puppy farming and a consultation on banning electric shock collars for dogs. Additionally, the government plans to prohibit shooting hares for most of the year during their breeding season and to end trail hunting, with a separate consultation on banning snare traps. Humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish to prevent avoidable pain are also part of the initiative.
The government describes this package as the most ambitious animal welfare strategy in a generation.
