Table 2

Numbers and percentage of commercial laying hen flocks submitted for necropsy to SVA and included in the study.


2001
2002
2003
2004

Housing systems
N
%
N
%
N
%
N
%

Cages1
5
41.7
6
9.1
4
9.5
5
9.6
Litter-based systems2
5
41.7
54
81.8
32
76.2
38
73.1
Free range3
2
16.6
6
9.1
6
14.3
9
17.3

Total
12
100
66
100
42
100
52
100

1Includes conventional battery cages and enriched cages.

2Includes single-tiered floor systems and multi-tiered aviary systems.

3Flocks housed in litter-based systems indoors, with access to outdoor pens and pasture, including organic flocks.

Fossum et al. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 2009 51:3   doi:10.1186/1751-0147-51-3