From cages to cage-free: A qualitative exploration of Chinese egg producers’ views on the opportunities and challenges to adopting cage-free egg production systems in China
The transition from conventional cage systems to cage-free egg production in China remains limited despite apparently increasing consumer demand for cage-free eggs. This study interviewed 15 large-scale Chinese egg producers using cages and/or cage-free systems (i.e. single-, multi-tier and free-ran...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Animal Welfare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0962728625100195/type/journal_article |
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| author | Qing Yang Fritha Langford Belinda Vigors Ruqian Zhao Cathy M Dwyer |
| author_facet | Qing Yang Fritha Langford Belinda Vigors Ruqian Zhao Cathy M Dwyer |
| author_sort | Qing Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The transition from conventional cage systems to cage-free egg production in China remains limited despite apparently increasing consumer demand for cage-free eggs. This study interviewed 15 large-scale Chinese egg producers using cages and/or cage-free systems (i.e. single-, multi-tier and free-range) to investigate the perceived challenges and opportunities during the transition. The cage farms’ scales range from 110,000 to 30 million, while the cage-free farms keep between 12,000 and 300,000 laying hens. Drawing upon the COM-B model of the Behaviour Change Wheel, this study explored how producers’ Capabilities, Opportunities, and Motivations impact decision-making processes. Key findings reveal that cage and cage-free producers considered consumer demand and profitability as primary drivers for adopting cage-free systems. While free-range producers were more confident in the market, barn system producers faced greater uncertainty due to limited engagement from corporate buyers. Moreover, these cage-free producers believed reliable certification and labelling schemes to be critical for building consumer trust and ensuring the success of cage-free operations. All the participants perceived access to sufficient land and financial resources to be essential for a successful transition. While most studies propose education as a long-term strategy to promote the growth of the cage-free egg sector, our findings are the first to highlight that engaging corporate buyers and establishing trustworthy certification schemes are the most crucial short-term interventions required to drive the development of large-scale cage-free farms and support sustained improvements in animal welfare in China. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e318855b9e554adaa906578f2f17d21a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0962-7286 2054-1538 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
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| series | Animal Welfare |
| spelling | doaj-art-e318855b9e554adaa906578f2f17d21a2025-08-20T03:28:58ZengCambridge University PressAnimal Welfare0962-72862054-15382025-01-013410.1017/awf.2025.10019From cages to cage-free: A qualitative exploration of Chinese egg producers’ views on the opportunities and challenges to adopting cage-free egg production systems in ChinaQing Yang0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8394-0644Fritha Langford1Belinda Vigors2Ruqian Zhao3Cathy M Dwyer4Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, https://ror.org/01nrxwf90 University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, UKSchool of Natural and Environmental Science, https://ror.org/01kj2bm70 Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne, UKRoyal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, https://ror.org/01nrxwf90 University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, UKCollege of Veterinary Science, https://ror.org/05td3s095 Nanjing Agricultural University , No. 1 Weigang Road, Nanjing 210095, ChinaDepartment of Animal Behaviour and Welfare, https://ror.org/044e2ja82 Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) , Edinburgh, UKThe transition from conventional cage systems to cage-free egg production in China remains limited despite apparently increasing consumer demand for cage-free eggs. This study interviewed 15 large-scale Chinese egg producers using cages and/or cage-free systems (i.e. single-, multi-tier and free-range) to investigate the perceived challenges and opportunities during the transition. The cage farms’ scales range from 110,000 to 30 million, while the cage-free farms keep between 12,000 and 300,000 laying hens. Drawing upon the COM-B model of the Behaviour Change Wheel, this study explored how producers’ Capabilities, Opportunities, and Motivations impact decision-making processes. Key findings reveal that cage and cage-free producers considered consumer demand and profitability as primary drivers for adopting cage-free systems. While free-range producers were more confident in the market, barn system producers faced greater uncertainty due to limited engagement from corporate buyers. Moreover, these cage-free producers believed reliable certification and labelling schemes to be critical for building consumer trust and ensuring the success of cage-free operations. All the participants perceived access to sufficient land and financial resources to be essential for a successful transition. While most studies propose education as a long-term strategy to promote the growth of the cage-free egg sector, our findings are the first to highlight that engaging corporate buyers and establishing trustworthy certification schemes are the most crucial short-term interventions required to drive the development of large-scale cage-free farms and support sustained improvements in animal welfare in China.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0962728625100195/type/journal_articleanimal welfareCOM-B modelcorporate sourcinglaying henmarket incentivesproducer motivation |
| spellingShingle | Qing Yang Fritha Langford Belinda Vigors Ruqian Zhao Cathy M Dwyer From cages to cage-free: A qualitative exploration of Chinese egg producers’ views on the opportunities and challenges to adopting cage-free egg production systems in China Animal Welfare animal welfare COM-B model corporate sourcing laying hen market incentives producer motivation |
| title | From cages to cage-free: A qualitative exploration of Chinese egg producers’ views on the opportunities and challenges to adopting cage-free egg production systems in China |
| title_full | From cages to cage-free: A qualitative exploration of Chinese egg producers’ views on the opportunities and challenges to adopting cage-free egg production systems in China |
| title_fullStr | From cages to cage-free: A qualitative exploration of Chinese egg producers’ views on the opportunities and challenges to adopting cage-free egg production systems in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | From cages to cage-free: A qualitative exploration of Chinese egg producers’ views on the opportunities and challenges to adopting cage-free egg production systems in China |
| title_short | From cages to cage-free: A qualitative exploration of Chinese egg producers’ views on the opportunities and challenges to adopting cage-free egg production systems in China |
| title_sort | from cages to cage free a qualitative exploration of chinese egg producers views on the opportunities and challenges to adopting cage free egg production systems in china |
| topic | animal welfare COM-B model corporate sourcing laying hen market incentives producer motivation |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0962728625100195/type/journal_article |
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