Forced egg production by poultries to be banned

HYDERABAD: The Animal husbandry department has directed its officials to immediately ban starvation force molting, a widely practiced procedure by poultry farmers for increasing egg production, following orders issued by Animal Welfare Board in March 2011.According to Humane Society International managing director N G Jayasimha, the board had declared starvation force molting as a punishable crime under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 and has issued orders in March 2011 for suspension of this practice immediately in India. “Molting is a natural process where a hen loses its feathers. However, the egg production increases after the hen undergoes molting. Hence, many poultry farmers in the country forcibly implement this process to increase their business,” he said.Jayasimha said that egglaying hens are deprived of food for about two weeks to manipulate their egg-laying cycle. Once the cycle is altered, egg production increases automatically.However, starvationforced molting increases the risk of hens laying salmonella- infected eggs, consuming of which could lead to reduced immunity among humans.States like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Goa and Chandigarh have already banned the procedure.