CP Foods farm the first certified for cage-free farming practices
Charoen Pokphand Foods’s Wang Somboon Farm becomes the first in Thailand to be certified by Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development for its cage-free farming practices.
The Department of Livestock enforced the cage-free farming standard in early 2021 and invited eligible farms to sign up for certification undertaken by the Bureau of Livestock Standards and Certification. Under recent inspection by Saraburi Provincial Livestock Office’s Muak Lek unit, Wang Somboon Farm was certified for its standard, being the first in Saraburi Province and Thailand. Dr.Nut Sawasrath, D.V.M, a Professional level Veterinarian who led the inspection team and represented Saraburi Province, said that Wang Somboon Farm has shown full compliance to the Department of Livestock Development’s cage-free standard, making it the first cage-free farm in Saraburi and Thailand to be certified for the standard.
He added that the certification would not only raise confidence among consumers but also serve as the foundation to lift Thailand’s standards in layer hen farming as the knowledge can be extended to other farmers.
The certification affirmed CP Foods commitment to obtaining international standards for Thailand’s livestock production and supporting sustainable consumption among Thai consumers. Mr. Somkid Wannalukkhee, senior vice president for egg business of CP Foods turned Wang Somboon into the prototype cage-free layer hen farm in 2018 and adopted the European Union’s standard farming model. The hens are raised in closed chicken houses. Each house has a low stocking density of 9 laying hens per square meter. The chicken houses are controlled by a computerized system, for 24-hour control in temperature and air ventilation.
The hen houses offer environmental enrichments which encourage layer hens to express natural behaviors freely. For example, there are perches, at least 15 cm per hen. The flooring supports ferreting and self-cleaning. The environments allow interactions and strict disease control. The Biosecurity Hi-tech Farming standards are applied, to ensure good physical and mental health and zero antibiotics use throughout the life cycle.
“The Department of Livestock Development’s cage-free standard certification is a major milestone for Wang Somboon Farm and Thailand’s layer hen farming industry which strives to meet international standards. The certification also reflects CP Foods commitment to strengthen food safety and animal welfare standards in Thailand’s agricultural sector which will raise the competitiveness of Thai products and support sustainable consumption,” Mr. Somkid stressed.
Wang Somboon Farm operates 12 hen houses with the capacity to produce 10 million eggs per annum. The annual capacity will be raised to 15 million this year under the goal to deliver more quality and safe food that offers full traceability. The eggs – produced in an environment that underlines animal welfare as demanded by consumers - are a healthy choice for the health-conscious.
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