Recently, Humane Africa Trust attended a cage-free training in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, hosted by Global Food Partners. This enlightening experience provided valuable insights into their innovative cage-free model for raising chickens.
At the heart of this model lies a deep commitment to upholding the 5 Freedoms of Animals:
- Freedom from Hunger and Thirst: Chickens should have access to fresh water and nutritious food, with balanced diets and clean feeding and watering systems.
- Freedom from Discomfort: Chickens should have comfortable resting places, shelter from the elements, and protection from extreme temperatures, with dry bedding, adequate ventilation, and shelter from wind, rain, and sun.
- Freedom from Pain, Injury, and Disease: Chickens should be protected from pain, injury, and disease, with regular veterinary care, health monitoring, and disease prevention.
- Freedom to Express Normal Behavior: Chickens should be able to engage in natural behaviors like foraging, scratching, and nesting, with space to move, opportunities for natural behavior, and stimulating environments.
- Freedom from Fear and Distress: Chickens should be protected from fear and distress, with gentle and humane handling, avoidance of loud noises and sudden movements, and provision of calm and peaceful environments.
During the training, we discussed how animal welfare organizations can collaborate with governments to improve the lives of laying hens. We explored strategies for advocating policy changes, implementing humane farming practices, and promoting consumer awareness. We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to Global Food Partners for providing us with this invaluable opportunity. Their commitment to improving animal welfare and promoting sustainable farming practices is truly inspiring, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with them. This experience has broadened our understanding of cage-free systems and reinforced our commitment to advancing animal welfare in Africa. We look forward to applying the knowledge gained to drive positive change for animals in our region.