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Consumer Preferences for Improved Hen Housing: Is a Cage a Cage?

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  • Maurice Doyon
  • Stéphane Bergeron
  • John Cranfield
  • Lota Tamini
  • George Criner

Abstract

There is growing concern amongst some consumers regarding animal welfare in livestock production. Several regions, including California and the European Union, have banned the use of battery cage production systems for laying hens. In Quebec, battery cages are being phased out with new barns required to be equipped with enriched cages. In this paper, the empirical data from two discrete choice experiments (DCE) are used to understand Quebec consumers’ demand for alternative laying hen housing systems and desired attributes. The results of the first DCE suggest that Quebec consumers are not willing to pay a premium for eggs produced in enriched cage systems, in spite of evidence that they prefer aspects of that system. Using an online survey we find that consumers have a negative stigma related to the word ‘cage’. A second DCE is therefore conducted to estimate consumer preferences for different amenities commonly found in enriched cage systems, without the possible negative framing effect from the word “cage”. The results suggest that consumers have a positive value for the enhanced housing system for laying hens, results also indicate a differentiated demand for the various elements of the enhanced system. Les consommateurs sont de plus en plus soucieux du bien-être animal. Plusieurs régions, incluant la Californie et l’Europe, interdissent l’élevage de poules dans des systèmes de cages traditionnelles. Au Québec, ce type de cage sera graduellement éliminé, les producteurs ayant collectivement décidé que les nouvelles constructions seront équipées de cages enrichies. Ce papier présence les résultats de deux enquêtes avec choix expérimentaux discrets (CED) qui permettent de mieux comprendre la demande des consommateurs québécois pour les différents éléments d’un système de cage enrichie. La première enquête démontre une absence de valeur positive pour ce système, bien que les éléments du système de cage enrichie soient valorisés. Une enquête en ligne démontre un for
(This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Suggested Citation

  • Maurice Doyon & Stéphane Bergeron & John Cranfield & Lota Tamini & George Criner, 2016. "Consumer Preferences for Improved Hen Housing: Is a Cage a Cage?," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 64(4), pages 739-751, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:canjag:v:64:y:2016:i:4:p:739-751
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/cjag.2016.64.issue-4
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    1. Cao, Ying & Chen, Chen & Cranfield, John & Widowski, Tina, 2017. "Market Responses to Information Conveying Mixed Messages – Prediction of Informational Impacts on Consumer Willingness to Pay for Eggs from Welfare Enhanced Cage Systems using Discrete Choice Experime," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 258545, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    2. Nathan Pelletier & Maurice Doyon & Bruce Muirhead & Tina Widowski & Jodey Nurse-Gupta & Michelle Hunniford, 2018. "Sustainability in the Canadian Egg Industry—Learning from the Past, Navigating the Present, Planning for the Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-24, September.
    3. Cao, Ying (Jessica) & Cranfield, John & Chen, Chen & Widowski, Tina, 2021. "Heterogeneous informational and attitudinal impacts on consumer preferences for eggs from welfare enhanced cage systems," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    4. Baoubadi Atozou & Lota D. Tamini & Maurice Doyon, 2022. "Bargaining power and risk from substitutability between products attributes the case of specialty eggs in Canada," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 53(1), pages 155-169, January.

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