Western Australia's Agriculture and Food Minister says she wants caged eggs off the state's supermarket shelves within the next decade.
Updated poultry standards for Australia were released earlier this month recommending an end to caged eggs by 2036.
However, WA minister Alannah MacTiernan believed the industry could stop the practice sooner.
"There's a case for reducing the introduction period. We think that probably a 10-year period is more credible, particularly when we see where the industry is headed," Ms MacTiernan said.
Caged eggs made up about 36 per cent of egg production in WA, compared to 58 per cent six years ago.
"As the various supermarket chains bring in their new rules … some of them starting next year, others by 2025, I think we will see a quicker transfer out [of caged eggs]," Ms MacTiernan said.
"By the time it takes effect, it would have been under active discussion for 17 years."
Egg shortages raise concerns
The minister's call came in the middle of a significant egg shortage, and industry figures feared they would not be able to meet demand if caged eggs were phased out.
Commercial Egg Producers Association of WA president Ian Wilson said he struggled to see any benefits in the transition.
"I think the consumer is the person who is going to be the hardest hit. We struggle at the minute to have enough eggs on the shelves," he said.
"By phasing out the cages, that's going to take away more eggs that are able to be presented to the public."
Mr Wilson said egg consumption had significantly increased per capita over the past 15 years.
"To cater for that increase and then trying to cater for the decrease in housing systems with the loss of the cage system, we really will find that we will struggle to have enough eggs," he said.
Forestdale Farm Fresh Eggs owner Joseph Sacca feared Australia would need to import eggs to keep up with consumer demand.
"We cannot produce enough eggs without the cages — it's just impossible," he said.
Protecting reputation of livestock industry
Ms MacTiernan said continuing production of caged eggs left the industry's social license at risk.
"The existential threat to the livestock sector is people turning away from the eating of animal products because they are concerned about animal welfare," Ms MacTiernan said.
"This is not something that is choosing the consumer over the grower. We want to protect the reputation of our livestock sector.
"We want to ensure that there's a great degree of confidence in our community, that the animal products that they buy have been humanely raised."
Producers will pay the price
The cost for producers to transition away from caged practices could be detrimental.
"To convert from one system to another will cost at least $30 a bird," Mr Sacca said.
"The government should support some finance or some loan towards the farmers to do so."
Ian Wilson said there were not many options for caged producers in the phase-out.
"Cage farmers, if the shed is capable, can transform the shed into potentially a barn laying shed," Mr Wilson said.
"Most cage farms, you can't convert into a free-range system because of land limitations and the building site with a shed so close together.
"These sorts of conversions cost a lot of money and take up a lot of time."
Ms MacTiernan said the state government would work with the industry through the phase-out.
"We'll be working with the industry to get clear detail on what infrastructure there is, what infrastructure might need to be replaced," she said.
"We're going to see when those investments were made, and what their real estate costs and options are."
