BANGKOK, Thailand—Humane World for Animals celebrates Sa-Nguan Farm's decision not to invest in additional cage systems and its long-term plan to transition to 100% cage-free egg production as market demand increases.
While a growing number of producers now offer cage-free eggs in Thailand, Sa-Nguan Farm is the first egg producer in the country to make a commitment not to expand intensive cage confinement. Instead, it will replacie confinement systems with cage-free hen housing.
Located about 100 km from Bangkok in Saraburi Province, Sa-Nguan Farm began its cage-free journey in 2022 by converting one of its 13 barns from battery cage to cage-free production. With support from Humane World for Animals, which included providing expert technical guidance, facilitating connections with corporate buyers and conducting site visits, the producer has continued expanding its cage-free operation. Since 2022, three additional barns have been converted, reflecting both its growing confidence in cage-free production and increasing market demand.
Today, the farm’s four cage-free houses supply approximately 6.5 million cage-free eggs annually. Sa-Nguan Farm has also achieved an international cage-free certification from Humane Farm Animal Care, a standard that exceeds Thailand’s minimum cage-free production requirements. The certification supports improved animal welfare by providing opportunities for hens to engage in natural behaviors and provides enhanced confidence for buyers seeking higher welfare.
In Sa-Nguan's cage-free barns, hens can move freely and express their natural behaviors such as dust bathing and resting on elevated perches. In contrast, nearly 98 million hens in Thailand are confined in small, crowded, barren wire cages for egg production.
The farm’s commitment reflects the expansion and growing influence of Thailand’s growing cage-free movement. Over 50 companies operating in Thailand have adopted cage-free commitments or procurement policies, including Marriott International, COMO Hotels and Salad Factory. Zen Corporation Group recently reported that 85% of the eggs it purchased this year came from cage-free systems, while Chatrium Hotel Group announced that it has achieved 100% cage-free egg sourcing across its hotels in Thailand.
"At Sa-Nguan Farm, we see animal welfare as essential to producing high-quality eggs and building a sustainable business. We aim to show that higher welfare standards are the right choice for animals, customers, our business and are the future of Thailand's egg industry," said Mr. Sathit Kruarattikarn, CEO of Sa-Nguan Farm.
“Sa-Nguan Farm’s commitment to improving animal welfare by moving away from cage systems solidifies its position as an industry leader,” said Lalada Tangjerdjaras, country program manager at Humane World for Animals in Thailand. “By investing in cage-free production and voluntarily exceeding Thailand’s current animal welfare requirements, the farm is giving corporate buyers greater confidence that they can meet their cage-free commitments while also supporting meaningful improvements in hens’ lives.”
"We hope Sa-Nguan Farm's achievement inspires other cage-free egg producers to view higher animal welfare standards not as a cost, but as a long-term investment. International certification helps future-proof businesses, opens new market opportunities, and reinforces Thailand's reputation as a producer of high-quality, responsibly produced food," added Mr. Luiz Mazzon, managing director of Certified Humane Asia.
