Evaluating the sustainability of egg production in Turkey: A standardized data approach

Year 2021, Volume: 62 Issue: 1, 7 - 14, 30.06.2021

Neslihan Kalkan Servet Yalçın

https://doi.org/10.29185/hayuretim.768934

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate egg production systems within the scope of sustainability criteria under Turkey conditions. A standardized data approach was used to measure sustainability and compare egg production systems. The study covered a one-year egg-laying cycle of 24 farms including conventional cage, organic, and free-range systems. Hens in conventional cages had higher egg production and lower feed intake compared to hens in organic and free-range systems. The highest mortality was found in the free-range hens while the lowest was in the conventional cage system. All hens were fully feathered in the organic egg production system, which was followed, by free-range and conventional cage. This result led to a better social sustainability score for non-cage systems. Economic issues of sustainability had higher scores in conventional cage and organic egg production than those in the free-range system. The hen number per m2 in the total farm area was lower in organic and free-range than those in conventional cage systems (P=0.003), nonetheless, the total land occupation area was found similar. The standardized data used in this study shows that management practices should be improved in free-range and organic egg production systems to achieve higher sustainability scores in Turkey.

Keywords

sustainability scoring, standardized data, egg production, conventional cage, organic, free-range

Supporting Institution

Ege Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Komisyonu

Project Number

17-FBE-003

Thanks

The authors would like to thank the Ege University BAP Commission for financial support (17-FBE-003).

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