The University of Saskatchewan is planning a new poultry research facility as Canada’s egg industry undergoes a major shift. By 2036, conventional cages for laying hens will be phased out across the country. As producers move towards giving chickens more space, scientists want to better understand how different environments affect egg production and animal welfare. Karen Schwean-Lardner, a professor of poultry science at the university, said her first research project will examine how lighting impacts laying hens. Schwean-Lardner said she plans to bring experts from across North America to collaborate at the new facility. “How cool is that? I mean, to be able to do that kind of research with an international perspective, I can’t stand it! I’m losing my voice because I’m excited,” she said. The nearly $16-million facility will include 10 research rooms where scientists can test lighting, feed and other conditions for laying hens. It will also feature a glass viewing room, where groups such as schoolchildren can observe the birds without risking biosecurity. “The industry has made a commitment to move away from conventional housing systems to enriched, to free-run, to free-range. And as we do that, we need more research,” said Dion Martens, executive director of Saskatchewan Egg Producers. The approximate 6,000 birds currently housed at the Poultry Research Centre will be euthanized at the end of their laying season ahead of the new facility opening. “At the end of the flock, the production cycle is stopped and we bring in a new bunch of young birds,” Schwean-Lardner said. The facility is expected to open within two to three years. There are 1,200 egg farmers in Canada, including 78 in Saskatchewan.
