WattAgNet: Hillandale Farms shifting to cage-free egg production15-07-2016
Written July 14, 2016 Hillandale Farms is shifting its production practice from using traditional layer cages to cage-free systems, the company announced on July 14. “All future expansion at any of our farms will only be with chickens housed in a cage-free environment,” Gary Bethel, chief executive of Hillandale Farms, said in a press release. “As our existing facilities age, they will be replaced with cage-free barns, as well.” The company stated that using cage-free systems is a practice that is “considered progressive by today’s consumers.” Cage-free facilities to be completed in 2017 In addition to the new egg-laying farms, Hillandale Farms, is also implementing cage-free systems in its New England and Ohio pullet houses, which grow the chickens from day-old to mature laying hens. One of the largest suppliers of shell eggs in the United States, Hillandale Fars has production facilities in the Northeast, Midwest and Southeast and supplies retailers and distributors throughout the eastern U.S. According to the WATTAgNet Top Poultry Companies Database, the company houses 12.5 million hens. |