Analysis of Different Production Systems in Laying Hen Enterprises with Analytic Hierarchy Process in Turkey

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to evaluated the enterprises engaged in conventional cage, enriched cage, free-range and organic egg production in Turkey in terms of four different criteria (profit, investment cost, animal welfare/health and sales/marketing) using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). For this purpose, the questionnaires through face-to-face interviews were conducted with a total of 64 producers who had been determined by random sampling method from 5 different regions included 17 Provinces between November 2016 and March 2019, and primary data were obtained. As a result, it has been found strategically significant that enterprises, to be engaged at the level of 47.0%, 20.0%, 18.0% and 15.0% in conventional, enriched, free-range and organic cage systems, respectively, in the market in terms of profit, investment cost, animal welfare/health and sales /marketing criteria. In addition, in the enterprises within the scope of the research, the profit, investment cost, sales/marketing and animal welfare/health criteria were determined as the dominant criteria at the level of 53.5%, 22.0%, 13.5% and 11.0% respectively. In conclusion, the conventional cage system is dominant with the rates of 55.0% for profit and 53.0% for investment cost criteria, and both of the conventional and enriched systems in terms of sales/marketing criteria are 38.5% dominant and the organic system in terms of animal welfare/health is 46.0% dominant.

Keywords:
Analytical hierarchy process; commercial laying enterprises; egg; organic system; traditional cage system