A recent article by Marcel Huijsmans of Hendrix Genetics, emphasizes the social behavior of hens and the need to incorporate a response to environmental variables into pure line selection programs.  Hendrix Genetics has studied social behavior for many generations and lines have all been selected without beak treatment.  Hendrix-Genetics claims that this approach has reduced cannibalism and feather picking.  The company is evaluating dietary variables, lighting programs, and housing systems in selection programs.  Pure lines have been selected in cage-free housing at a number of locations around the world to assess interaction between environment and climate for non-caged flocks. 

As with other primary breeders, Hendrix Genetics uses trap nests and RFD technology to gather data that is incorporated into index selection.  The company has entered into technical agreements with research institutes and universities to evaluate specific aspects of welfare and behavior.

Marcel Huijsmans

The rapid transition from caged housing to alternative systems has gathered support since the turn of the century. This has created new challenges for primary breeders to ensure that their commercial products achieve optimal egg production, liveability and hence cumulative eggs per extended cycles using non-confined housing and management.