Judge Rejects Department of Agriculture's Argument for Cage-Free Hens in Arizona
yourvalley.net
The judge has denied the Department of Agriculture's claim that hens must be cage-free in Arizona. This decision comes as a result of the recent legal battle regarding poultry housing standards.
The Department had argued that the absence of cages violates the welfare of the birds, but the judge did not find this reasoning convincing. The court's ruling emphasizes the importance of considering the best interests of the animals, which, in this case, does not align with the department's cage-free requirement.
This verdict is a significant step towards recognizing the ethical treatment of poultry in the state. It suggests that the industry may be moving towards a more humane approach to housing these birds, even if it is not yet universally cage-free.