THE poultry industry is in uproar over claims that cruelty is rife on scores of free-range farms.
The claim - that free-range systems encourage cannibalism among birds - has also reignited debate on who should be able to use the term free-range.
And customers say they are more confused than ever over what eggs or meat they should be buying to ensure better animal welfare.
The cannibalism claims, made by Australian Egg Corporation communications manager Jaqueline Battista, drew an angry response from several free-range producers, who said cannibalism was caused by overstocking and was not a problem in "genuine" free-range farming.
"In free-range, the birds are very territorial, they can seek out the weakest and cannibalise each other," Ms Battista said .
"It (cannibalism) is a problem across all systems (so) it keeps a lot of consumers with cage eggs . . . with no defined welfare advantages, economics become a powerful tool."
Free Range Poultry Association Queensland president Ivy Inwood said the comments had been made to undermine the free-range industry and "to look after the big boys" on the AEC board, some of whom were in cage production.
"I'll take her to a cage plant and show them what cannibalism is, I will open Pandora's box," she said.
"Cannibalism occurs because they're overstocking - that's not free-range, it's imitation free-range."
Free-range Family Homestead general manager Vesna Luketic said cannibalisation only occurred where producers had "large volumes of chickens in barn-laid situations, which is not free range".
Free-Range Farmers Association accreditation officer Ron Moore agreed.
Free-Range Egg and Poultry Association president Meg Parkinson said it had never been an issue on her farm, "but I have seen it happen".
RSPCA Australia president Hugh Wirth said cannibalism was a problem where the poultry were confined.
The cannibalism furore re-ignites the industry debate on de-beaking and beak trimming. The FRFA says it is cruel and unnecessary if chickens are kept at appropriate stocking rates, but FREPA and the AEC allow the practice.
Advocates say it limits serious damage during fights.
Ms Parkinson said her organisation allowed the practice, partly because it was difficult to police. She said it was difficult to tell if beaks had been trimmed by laser.
FRFA research indicates consumers believe free-range chickens have intact beaks.
The issue highlights the big differences in products sold as "free-range" and the David-and-Goliath battle waged by some free-range producers to have a legally enforced free-range standard.
Some free-range farmers say big producers are obtaining premiums by using "free-range" logos without practising free-range principles.
Ms Inwood said large producers were aided by FREPA, which she accused of watering down free-range standards.
FREPA's membership is dominated by growers contracted to Ingham and Baiada, which supply"free-range" meat to Coles and Woolworths.
Both sell meat from birds that have only had outside access for under three weeks - about half their lives.
Ms Parkinson said FREPA had "always stood up to scrutiny" and had "expelled people for not adhering to its standards".
Mr Moore said consumers expected free-range birds to be in small flocks.
A Farm Pride operation near Bendigo has 120,000 birds in three sheds. Farm Pride did not return calls.
A recent report by consumer advocate Choice found big "free-range" producers had "redefined the term to suit themselves" and called for a legally enforceable standard.
The AEC will certify stocking densities of 1500 birds/ha as free-range and allows 14 birds or 30kg a square metre in the shed. It allows beak trimming.
FREPA allows 750 birds/ha outside and 10 birds or 30kg a square metre of shed floor, and also allows beak trimming.
FRFA certifies up to 750 birds/ha as free-range, and 15kg a square metre inside, and also demands perches for the birds and limits stocking to 1000 birds a shed.
It bans "all bird mutilation processes" such as de-beaking.
The Australian Certified Organic standard, which qualifies as free-range, allows 1000 birds/ha outside and five birds a square metre inside. It bans beak trimming and specifies no more than 1500 birds per shed.
A spokesman for Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke said he believed free-range descriptions had been agreed to in 2001 by Federal and state governments and implemented "as far as we know".
A spokesman for Victorian Agriculture Minister Joe Helper said "product labelling was regulated by the industry", and that the Brumby Government supported that method.
