egg production

Chain of egg production

Lion Code of Practice

The Lion Code is applied at each point in the egg production chain. Results of the Lion Quality Code in the UK has been a reduction in human salmonellosis and an increase in shell egg consumption.

Breeding Flocks

  • All breeding flocks and hatcheries have to be Lion approved.
  • All major hatcheries in the UK are registered with the Lion Scheme.
  • All breeding flocks are tested weekly for Salmonella. Flocks positive for S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium are slaughtered.
  • Feed has to be heat- or acid-treated.
  • Parent birds are Salmonella-free. They are not vaccinated against Salmonella.

Rearing farms

  • Registered rearing farms are Lion-approved.
  • A passport accompanies chicks from the hatchery to the rearing farm.
  • Effective on-farm hygiene measures. Emphasis is placed on the cleaning and disinfection process between flocks.
  • Effective rodent control,
  • All pullets are vaccinated against Salmonella Enteritidis on the rearing farm. By 1999 the Lion Flock was fully vaccinated.

Laying farms

  • Registered laying farms, Lion-approved.
  • Passport accompanies pullets from rearing farms.
  • Effective on-farm hygiene measures. Emphasis is placed on the cleaning and disinfection process between flocks.
  • Effective rodent control.

Feed

  • All Lion feed mills must be approved.
  • All feed must be produced according to the UFAS Code of Practice.
  • No mammalian or avian products can be used.
  • No growth promoters can be used.

Transport of eggs from the farm

The Lion Code covers:

  • Temperature control.
  • The use of standardized Keyes tray colours.
  • Written proof of identity. This ensures traceability of the eggs.

Packing centres

  • Written HACCP controls.
  • Cleaning schedules that have to be signed off when completed.
  • Full traceability. Able to know which flock produced the eggs.
  • Effective crack and blood detection on eggs
  • Lion product exclusivity. If a packing centre is in the Lion scheme, all eggs going into the centre are of Lion quality.

Best before dates

  • Best before dates are stamped on the box and on each eggshell along with the Lion logo.
  • The best-before date is 21 days from packing

Auditing

All Lion-approved facilities are audited at two levels:

  • A six monthly self-audit.
  • An independent audit.

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