Calgary - A proposal that could see Calgary Co-op rethink how it sources its eggs and pork is the latest example of growing consumer pressure around farming practices and animal welfare.

At Wednesday’s AGM, Calgary Co-op member Clint Robertson will put forward a resolution calling for the retailer to phase out the sale of eggs and pork produced using intensive confinement cages. Robertson, like many animal rights advocates, believes the use of conventional or “battery” housing systems for egg production — in which hens are kept in lines of cages connected together — constitutes cruelty. He is also opposed to the pork industry’s use of “gestation stalls,” in which sows are kept tightly confined in crates for most of their lives.

“It’s sort of analogous to living your life in an airline seat, except on an airplane you have the benefit of walking to the bathroom every now and then,” said Robertson.

Gestation stalls and battery cages are commonplace across North America, and the vast majority of Alberta’s eggs and pork products are produced in this way. However, alternatives do exist. “Enriched” hen housing systems have extra features like perches, scratch pads and dust baths that allow the birds to engage in more natural behaviours, while free-run or free-range systems allow hens to move about at will. On the pork side, some producers have switched to group housing, which gives animals more space and allows them to mingle with each other.

If the Calgary Co-op motion passes, it will not be the first time a grocery chain or restaurant has taken a stand on the issue. Tim Hortons Inc. made headlines last year by calling for an end to gestation stall use, saying it would give preference to pork suppliers who could demonstrate clear plans to phase out the practice. Tim Hortons also announced it would boost the number of eggs it buys from producers who use enriched housing systems.

Other fast food chains, including Burger King and McDonald’s, have committed to holding their suppliers to a higher animal welfare standard. The U.S. division of grocery chain Safeway Inc. has announced plans to move toward a stall-free supply chain.

But as the cage-free movement grows, farmers are feeling the pressure — and some are asking retailers not to be too hasty.

David Webb, spokesperson for the Egg Farmers of Alberta, said the industry is gradually moving on its own toward enriched cage systems.

In 2006, 98.5 per cent of Alberta’s eggs were produced in conventional cage systems. As of 2012, that number was down to 85.8 per cent.

At its last AGM, the Egg Farmers of Alberta passed its own resolution calling for producers to no longer install battery cages — although the organization has not yet determined a time frame for that goal.

However, Webb said it’s not realistic for any grocery chain to expect the egg industry to change its practices overnight. He said he would rather see stores work with suppliers to develop reasonable timelines.

“A very quick turnaround would be difficult,” Webb said.