USA
Michigan Cage Ban
Summary Description
Prohibits confining sows, calves and egg laying hens in a manner that prevents the covered animal from lying down, standing up, or fully extending their limbs, as well as turning around freely without touching a wall or another animal.
Species
Dairy cows
Calves
Jurisdiction
USA
Sub-Jurisdiction
N/A
Type of Act
Legislation
Status
In force
Legal Value
Binding
Date Enacted
2019
Date Updated
June, 2023
Official Citation
Michigan Animal industry Act, Act 446 of 1988. (Amended by Senate Bill 174)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- Sets a moratorium on the keeping of sows in gestation crates, as well as the confinement of egg-laying hens in cages.
- Prohibits all types of battery cages, including enriched ones.
- Includes a sales ban on eggs from caged hens and prohibits their importation.
- Requires that hens are provided with enrichments that allow them to exhibit natural behaviors, including scratch areas, perches, nest boxes, and dust bathing areas.
- Prohibits gestation crates for sows.
- Includes an enforcement mechanism by the Attorney General.
Weaknesses
- The sales ban only covers egg-laying hens. The sales ban further excludes egg products.
- Includes a transition period until December 2024.
- In the case of a gestating sow, the period beginning 7 days before the gestating sow's expected date of giving birth is excluded.
- The law still allows the minimal space allowance per animals in some cases, for instance for testing or in farms holding less than 3,000 egg laying hens.
Related Laws/Policies
View DatabaseThe Coller Animal Law Forum is part of Jeremy Coller Foundation, a registered charity (No. 1163970) and a company limited by guarantee (No. 9696841) in England and Wales. | Copyright @ 2026