Egg producer attitudes and expectations regarding the transition to cage-free production: a mixed-methods approach

Egg producer attitudes and expectations regarding the transition to cage-free production: a mixed-methods approach

Blog Article

ABSTRACT: Several cage-free egg mandates and retailer coleman 125 ut parts pledge deadlines are set to take effect in January 2026.Yet it is unknown whether producers can transition to cage-free production at a rate commensurate with these goals.This study uses qualitative and quantitative data from 2 U.S.egg producer surveys to evaluate the operational activities of conventional and cage-free facilities, identify market challenges, and assess the expected transition timeline.

Across both studies, producers indicated higher fixed and variable costs in cage-free housing systems, with capital and labor being 2 of the central drivers of the cost increase.While several producers are willing to honda weathershields adopt cage-free production, they are hesitant to view the market shift as an opportunity.Among the most commonly cited barriers are limited customer demand, high capital costs, and a contradiction to environmental sustainability and food security efforts.With the current challenges, respondents are skeptical that the industry will meet the January 2026 voluntary pledge deadlines.The results from this study offer a holistic view of the potential ramifications of the cage-free transition on the egg market and can be used to inform marketing strategies and policy discussions.