Between 2018 and 2020, 1.4 million European Union citizens signed an “End the Cage Age” petition, which aimed to end cage housing for farm animals in Europe. In response to this citizens’ initiative, the European Parliament requested a study by Utrecht University researchers on the possibilities to end cage housing. This week, scientists are presenting their report “End the Cage Age – Looking for Alternatives” to the European Parliament. In the report, behavioral biologists, animal scientists, veterinarians and ethicists from Utrecht University's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine analyzed the available scientific literature on alternatives to cage housing. Bas Rodenburg, professor of animal welfare at Utrecht University, said the study focused on laying hens and pigs, “because these are the species that are kept in the largest numbers, and cage-free alternatives are already available or in development for them."