Partial budget analysis of laying hens’ transition from cages to production systems of improved welfare: a case study in Greece

1. In recent years, public concern regarding animal welfare has increased while, at the same time, cage systems for animal production have been greatly criticised by EU citizens. In addition, large food retailers promote food products that are made with eggs produced in cage-free systems. 2. The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic viability of the transition of laying hens’ to production systems; from conventional to alternative systems with improved welfare. Three independent scenarios were assumed as follows: transition from enriched colony cages to barn (S1), transition from barn to free-range (S2), and transition from free-range to organic (S3). Economic assessments of each transition was applied to a model farm in Greece with 12 000 hens, through partial budget analysis and net benefits and costs were estimated. 3. The results showed a positive economic impact in all transitions to a production system of improved animal welfare (€12,044 in S1, €18,957 in S2 and €7,977 in S3) which indicated that they are economically sustainable. In all scenarios, unit cost increased by 19% in S1, 12% in S2, and 85% in S3. 4. In conclusion, transitioning towards improved animal welfare production systems in laying hen farms could be an economically viable option for egg producers in compliance with societal demands and market trends.

1. 近年来，公众对动物福利的关注度持续提升，与此同时，欧盟民众也对畜禽养殖笼养系统提出了大量批评。此外，大型食品零售商纷纷推广采用无笼养殖系统（cage-free systems）所产鸡蛋制成的食品。
2. 本研究旨在评估产蛋鸡养殖从传统笼养系统转向福利改良型替代养殖系统的经济可行性。本研究设定了三种独立转型场景：一是从富集群养笼（enriched colony cages）转向舍饲养殖（barn）（场景S1）；二是从舍饲养殖转向散养（free-range）（场景S2）；三是从散养转向有机养殖（organic）（场景S3）。以希腊一家拥有12000只产蛋鸡的标准化农场为研究对象，通过部分预算分析法（partial budget analysis）对各转型场景开展经济评估，并估算其净收益与成本。
3. 研究结果显示，所有转向福利改良型养殖系统的转型均产生了正向经济收益（场景S1为12044欧元，场景S2为18957欧元，场景S3为7977欧元），表明此类转型具备经济可持续性。在各场景中，单位养殖成本分别上升19%（S1）、12%（S2）与85%（S3）。
4. 综上，产蛋鸡养殖场转向福利改良型养殖系统，对于符合社会需求与市场趋势的鸡蛋生产商而言，是一项具备经济可行性的选择。