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Abstract
Concerns over laying hens’ welfare have led to many different labels for eggs and changes to
state regulations. Consumer attitudes toward farm-animal welfare were examined using a national
survey in the context of preferences for eggs differentiated by layer management practices.
Most respondents perceived caged housing and other conventional management practices as
reducing hens’ welfare and were willing to pay a premium for eggs produced in cage-free
and other nonconventional production systems. Although participants responded to information
about environmental consequences of management practices, they placed more weight on animal
welfare issues than environmental issues in their egg-purchase decisions.