PHOTOS: CPF
FARM VISIT ▶▶▶
CP Foods revs up cage-free production
Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) is set to rev up its cage-free egg production to meet the increasing demand from the food service industry and consumers concerned about animal welfare. Senior vice president of CPF, Somkid Wannalukkhee comments on receiving the first ever Thai cage-free certification for its showcase Wang Somboon farm.
BY APISIT BURANAKANONDA D
uring the first few months of 2021, the Thailand Department of Livestock started enforcing the cage-free farming standard and invited eligible farms sign up for certification. CPF’s Wang Som-
boon farm was the first to apply as it had been designed as a
Wang Somboon Farm Saraburi, Thailand
CP’s cage free Wang Somboon Farm houses 70.000 layers in 7 sheds. Rearing density is five birds/sq m, which is less than the recommend- ed nine birds/sq m. Floor space is 1,100 sq cm/bird. A 100- metre- long group nest runs from the front to the rear of the house. Various nest types are being tested to find out which types work best and to implement them in future CP projects.
showcase free-range farm since its inception in 2018. Subse- quent inspections went smoothly and certification was awarded. Somkid explains: “The cage-free standard certifica- tion represents a major milestone for Wang Somboon farm and Thailand’s layer hen industry which is striving to meet international standards. The certification also reflects CP Foods’ commitment to strengthening food safety and animal welfare standards in Thailand’s agricultural sector to increase the competitiveness of Thai products and support sustaina- ble consumption.” CPF’s cage-free production strategy was designed to meet the future needs of the food industry. CP Foods’ Wang Som- boon farm has operated cage-free production since 2018 using the EU standard farming model. The laying hens are raised based on the internationally recognised ‘five free- doms’: consisting of freedom from hunger and thirst, free- dom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom from fear and distress, and freedom to express ani- mal instincts and behaviour. As a result the hens are happy, healthy and antibiotic-free throughout their lives. Interna- tional food companies and hotels, for example, Nestlé, Unile- ver, Hilton and others, have set 2025 as their deadline to be- gin sourcing cage-free eggs for their supply chains. In Thailand, UK retailer Tesco will sell only cage-free eggs by 2030. “The quality of CPF cage-free eggs is identical to pre- mium imported Japanese eggs that are odour-free and can be eaten raw. But our eggs are fresher and the price is remarkably cheaper,” says Somkid. Apart from complying with rigorous cage-free standards and animal welfare guidelines, another major obstacle is provid- ing enough volume to ensure customers have access to an uninterrupted supply. This requires so much patience and capital that only a few producers have been up to the task, says Somkid. At present, CPF produces around ten million cage-free eggs a year but could boost that figure to 35 mil- lion based on the current capacity of Wang Somboon farm in Saraburi, 100km northeast of Bangkok. The farm, originally built in 2002 as a broiler breeder farm, covers 22.8 hectares. Later, in 2018, it was renovated to accommodate cage-free layer farming.
Currently, there are 7 layer houses (12×120m) with 70,000 birds in total. At present, this creates a sufficient supply of eggs of all sizes to supply customers the whole year round.
18 ▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 5/6, 2021
Production In cage-free production, layer and pullet houses are thor- oughly cleaned and disinfected before rearing starts. At Wang
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