The Problem of Duck Welfare in Indonesia
Duck farming in Indonesia plays a crucial role in supporting local economies and food security. According to the Indonesian Bureau of Statistics (Badan Pusat Statistik), in 2022, the duck population reached 56,728,470 individuals, although there is no data to specify between ducks for egg and meat production. In 2023, Indonesia’s duck egg production reached 358,220.20 tons, and duck meat production totaled 49,267.40 tons. Top five provinces contributing to duck egg production are West Java, East Java, South Sulawesi, Central Java, and South Kalimantan. The Indonesian duck egg market is experiencing rising demand and is projected to grow annually by 6.95%, aligning with the increasing global demand for duck products, particularly in Asia. Given the sector’s economic potential, the Indonesian government has started promoting intensive farming systems, including battery cages in Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta and Blitar, East Java, to boost production.
These intensive systems raise alarming concerns about duck welfare and can lead to adverse effects on the animals. In an investigative video by Sinergia Animal in collaboration with We Animals Media, the appalling conditions of layer ducks in battery cages in Indonesia were exposed. The ducks in these confined spaces are unable to perform natural behaviors like foraging, swimming, or preening, leading to poor conditions, skin issues, wounds, deformities, and stress-induced behaviors. According to a comprehensive scientific overview by EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) that focuses on the effects of cage systems on ducks, geese, and quail to provide a scientific foundation for future laws, six major welfare concerns for ducks were identified and assessed in different husbandry systems.
The welfare concerns are restricted movement, injuries, group stress, inability to perform comfort behaviors, inability to explore or forage, and inability to express maternal behaviors, which significantly worsen in individual cages or elevated pens (European Food Safety Authority, 2023). These issues were evaluated considering the unique characteristics of each species and the risks associated with various husbandry systems in the European Union (EU). While the condition and duck strains in Indonesia may differ, this scientific opinion can serve as a valuable foundation for improving duck welfare standards in Indonesia.
Urgent action is critical to prevent the expansion of battery cage farming for ducks in Indonesia, as this could mirror the severe welfare issues faced by layer hens. Such systems not only compromise duck welfare by preventing natural behaviors but also pose ethical and sustainability concerns.
