Scots stand firm on perches

Officials in Scotland are standing by their decision to insist producers fit a full 15cm of aerial perch for every hen.

The move, which was revealed in last month’s Ranger, comes about as a result of the Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department’s interpretation of EU welfare rules.

With BFREPA members in Scotland opposed to the move the association wrote to the Scottish Executive pointing out the problems associated with overhead perching and urged them to adopt a similar line to Defra and allow perching space to be incorporated as part of the slatted floor.

But in a letter to BFREPA, Allan McFarlane of SEERAD’s animal health and welfare branch wrote: “We have, in conjunction with our veterinary advisors, given careful consideration to this matter and can confirm that, without being too prescriptive, our view is that perches, for the purpose of the laying hens legislation, should ideally be raised rods or bars provided to allow birds to rest and should not simply be designated slats in a slatted floor.”

Mr McFarlane went on: “Whilst it is ultimately a matter for the courts to decide, our view is that the purpose of the legislation is to provide perches to improve the welfare of birds by allowing them to rest in a natural position and designated slats in slatted floors do not allow this if the birds do not recognise the slats as perches.

“Ideally, we consider that perches will be raised above ground level sufficiently for resting birds to avoid other birds on the ground below, but not too high in order to minimise the risk of injury to birds jumping from the perch.

“We are quite clear,” said SEERAD, “that despite any views to the contrary you may have received from Defra, that designated slats in slatted floors should not generally be considered as perches and intend that the State Veterinary Service, using their discretion in the particular circumstances, should enforce the relevant legislation in Scotland taking this view.”