UW-Madison Moves the Ball Forward for Laying Hens |
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April 7, 2006
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©The HSUS/Balk |
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Cage-free hens are not as intensively confined as battery-cage hens. |
With more than 40,000 students, the University of Wisconsin at Madison is one of the nation's largest academic institutions. And now, thanks to its food services department, UW-Madison has become a leader in an important trend that is improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of animals across the country.
In April 2006, UW-Madison Housing Food Services enacted a policy to begin using eggs from cage-free hens—switching to organic, cage-free eggs for both shell and liquid eggs in its dining halls.
The school's Housing Food Services buys approximately 85,000 shell eggs and more than 65,000 pounds of liquid eggs a year, so this decision will improve the lives of approximately 3,000 egg-laying hens. While cage-free does not mean cruelty-free, ending the confinement of laying hens in battery cages reduces animal suffering.
Cage-Free 101
After The HSUS discussed with Food Services the hows and whys of adopting a cage-free egg policy, the university chose an organic, cage-free egg producer in Wisconsin to supply its eggs. "UW-Madison is glad to respond to our students' requests for organic, cage-free eggs," said Robert Fessenden, director of Housing Food Services for the school.
The reasons for avoiding eggs from caged birds are numerous. Most egg-laying hens in the United States are confined in "battery cages" that are so restrictive the birds can’t even spread their wings, let alone engage in other important natural behaviors such as walking, dust-bathing, and nesting.
These cruel conditions are among the top reasons compelling students and others in collegiate communities to propel the fast-growing trend towards cage-free eggs and driving the successes of HSUS's Cage-Free Campus Campaign. "These students and community members' actions demonstrate just how easy it is for one person to make a very real difference in the lives of farm animals," explained Josh Balk, outreach coordinator for The HSUS Factory Farming Campaign.
A Growing Trend
UW-Madison joins a growing list of schools enacting cage-free egg policies. More than 80 schools—including the University of Iowa, Tufts University, the University of Connecticut, American University, the University of New Hampshire, Georgetown University, and Dartmouth College—have enacted policies to eliminate or greatly reduce the use of eggs from caged hens.
In addition to these schools, several major grocery chains have implemented similar socially responsible policies as well, including Whole Foods Market, and Wild Oats Natural Marketplace. Trader Joe's has also converted all its brand eggs to cage-free. Food service provider Bon Appétit, which serves nearly 400 school and corporate cafés across the country, is currently phasing in cage-free shell eggs as well.
"By enacting this cage-free egg policy, UW-Madison is helping improve the lives of thousands of animals," commented Paul Shapiro, Factory Farming Campaign director for The HSUS. "The Humane Society of the United States applauds UW-Madison for its move, and we encourage other schools to follow its example."
What You Can Do
If you are a student, alum, employee, or concerned community member, contact Josh Balk at jbalk@hsus.org for more information about how you can get involved in the Cage-Free Campus Campaign.
See the Video
Battery-Cage Eggs
Related Links
The HSUS's Campaign to Ban Battery Cages
Cage-Free Campus
An HSUS Report: The Welfare of Animals in the Egg Industry
Higher Learning and Higher Welfare: The HSUS Awards Campus Animal Advocates
