Sustainable Management of Laying Hens: Review of Current Challenges and Future Prospects
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36423/baar.v6i2.2029Abstract
Sustainable management of layer poultry is essential for balancing productivity with environmental, economic, and social responsibilities. As demand for eggs continues to rise, the layer poultry industry faces increasing pressure to adopt practices that minimize environmental impact, reduce resource use, and improve animal welfare. Sustainability in layer poultry management not only supports ecological health but also aligns with consumer preferences for ethically produced animal products. This review identifies and discusses the challenges in layer poultry production, evaluates current sustainable practices, and explores innovative approaches that can enhance sustainability. The review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of best practices and future prospects for the industry. Sustainable practices, such as using alternative feed sources, implementing waste-to-resource systems, and adopting welfare-friendly housing, show promise in addressing these challenges. Future prospects include integrating renewable energy, precision farming technology, and enhanced waste management strategies to further support sustainability goals. Sustainable practices are essential for the long-term viability of the layer poultry industry. Holistically addressing environmental, economic, and social factors can create a resilient egg production system that meets both consumer demand and ecosystem needs.
References
Adom, E., Bir, C., & Lambert, L. H. (2023). A financial comparison of small-scale quail and laying hen farm enterp rises. Poultry Science, 102(4), 102507. Crossref. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2023.102507
Anacleto, T. M., Oliveira, H. R., Diniz, V. L., de Oliveira, V. P., Abreu, F., & Enrich-Prast, A. (2022). Boosting manure biogas production with the application of pretreatment s: A meta-analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production, 362, 132292. Crossref. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132292
Arrieta, E. M., Aguiar, S., González Fischer, C., Cuchietti, A., Cabrol, D. A., González, A. D., & Jobbágy, E. G. (2022). Environmental footprints of meat, milk and egg production in Argentina. Journal of Cleaner Production, 347, 131325. Crossref. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131325
Awasthi, S. K., Kumar, M., Sarsaiya, S., Ahluwalia, V., Chen, H., Kaur, G., Sirohi, R., Sindhu, R., Binod, P., Pandey, A., Rathour, R., Kumar, S., Singh, L., Zhang, Z., Taherzadeh, M. J., & Awasthi, M. K. (2022). Multi-criteria research lines on livestock manure biorefinery developm ent towards a circular economy: From the perspective of a life cycle a ssessment and business models strategies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 341, 130862. Crossref. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.130862
Belhadj Slimen, I., Yerou, H., Ben Larbi, M., M’Hamdi, N., & Najar, T. (2023). Insects as an alternative protein source for poultry nutrition: A revi ew. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10. Crossref. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1200031
Bir, C., Thompson, N. M., Tyner, W. E., Hu, J., & Widmar, N. J. O. (2018). “Cracking” into the debate about laying hen housing. Poultry Science, 97(5), 1595–1604. Crossref. https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pey017
Blake, D. P., Knox, J., Dehaeck, B., Huntington, B., Rathinam, T., Ravipati, V., Ayoade, S., Gilbert, W., Adebambo, A. O., Jatau, I. D., Raman, M., Parker, D., Rushton, J., & Tomley, F. M. (2020). Re-calculating the cost of coccidiosis in chickens. Veterinary Research, 51(1). Crossref. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-020-00837-2
Caputo, V., Staples, A. J., Tonsor, G. T., & Lusk, J. L. (2023). Egg producer attitudes and expectations regarding the transition to ca ge-free production: A mixed-methods approach. Poultry Science, 102(11), 103058. Crossref. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2023.103058
de Olde, E. M., van der Linden, A., olde Bolhaar, L. D., & de Boer, I. J. M. (2020). Sustainability challenges and innovations in the Dutch egg sector. Journal of Cleaner Production, 258, 120974. Crossref. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120974
Elahi, U., Xu, C., Wang, J., Lin, J., Wu, S., Zhang, H., & Qi, G. (2022). Insect meal as a feed ingredient for poultry. Animal Bioscience, 35(2), 332–346. Crossref. https://doi.org/10.5713/ab.21.0435
England, A., & Ruhnke, I. (2020). The influence of light of different wavelengths on laying hen producti on and egg quality. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 76(3), 443–458. Crossref. https://doi.org/10.1080/00439339.2020.1789023
Georganas, A., Giamouri, E., Pappas, A. C., Zoidis, E., Goliomytis, M., & Simitzis, P. (2023). Utilization of Agro-Industrial By-Products for Sustainable Poultry Pro duction. Sustainability, 15(4), 3679. Crossref. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043679
Giersberg, M. F., & Rodenburg, B. (2023). Advances in keeping laying hens in various cage-free systems: Part I r earing phase. Worlds Poultry Science Journal. https://doi.org/10.1080/00439339.2023.2234343
Grassauer, F., Arulnathan, V., & Pelletier, N. (2023). Towards a net-zero greenhouse gas emission egg industry: A review of r elevant mitigation technologies and strategies, current emission reduc tion potential, and future research needs. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 181, 113322. Crossref. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113322
Gunnarsson, S., Arvidsson Segerkvist, K., Göransson, L., Hansson, H., & Sonesson, U. (2020). Systematic Mapping of Research on Farm-Level Sustainability in Egg and Chicken Meat Production. Sustainability, 12(7), 3033. Crossref. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12073033
Heidari, M. D., Gandasasmita, S., Li, E., & Pelletier, N. (2021). Proposing a framework for sustainable feed formulation for laying hens: A systematic review of recent developments and future directions. Journal of Cleaner Production, 288, 125585. Crossref. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125585
Kheiralipour, K., Rafiee, S., Karimi, M., Nadimi, M., & Paliwal, J. (2023). The environmental impacts of commercial poultry production systems usi ng life cycle assessment: A review. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 80(1), 33–54. Crossref. https://doi.org/10.1080/00439339.2023.2250326
Kim, D.-H., & Lee, K.-W. (2023). An update on heat stress in laying hens. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 79(4), 689–712. https://doi.org/10.1080/00439339.2023.2239769
