Organic poultry farming

The development in organic livestock production can be attributed to an increased consumer inter-est in organic products while, at the same time, farmers are interested in converting to organic pro-duction methods – often stimulated by governmental support or subsidies. It is important that the organic production systems can fulfil the expectations of each of these stakeholders if the organic livestock production is to increase further. This is in particular important if the organic poultry pro-duction should move from the present niche-production to a real player in the food marked, like in the case of beef and milk. It can be argued that the limited organic poultry production is related to the fact that it is far more difficult for the farmers to change the existing production systems for poultry compared to produc-tion systems for cattle and other ruminants in a way that gives a harmonious balance between the different aims of organic farming. In the existing systems for layers with flock sizes of 3,000 hens and where the hens have access to an outdoor area, the egg production and the feed conversion can be close to production results in conventional production. However, often a considerable mortality can be seen in organic egg production in part due to cannibalism and often also very high nutrient loads are observed in parts of the outdoor area. These conditions are important drawbacks in exist-ing systems. In order to improve the situation there is a need to look at the genotype of hens, to consider new management procedures, and – not at least – to consider new systems where the poultry to a higher degree are integrated in the land use. Promising results with integration of chickens, ducks and geese into an orchard production is found. Also preliminary results of housing systems for small flocks of layers are presented

Increased foraging in organic layers

In this thesis it was hypothesised that that hens are capable of finding and utilising a considerable amount of feed items from a forage area, and this is dependent on the type of supplementary feed and forage vegetation offered. It was found that high-producing layer strains are able to consume considerable amounts of herbage and that forage together with other feed items from the forage area can provide laying hens with important nutrients. The type of supplementary (layer feed versus whole wheat and oyster shells) and the type of forage have an influence on the feed intake from the forage area. Thus, nutrient-restricted hens had a higher intake of herbage and a different preference for other feed items compared with hens, which had their nutrient requirement covered through the layer feed. Recordings on egg quality and productivity indicate that chicory is a particular valuable forage crop in a forage-based system. Also focus on earthworms has potential. It was concluded that it is possible to lower the standards of important nutrients in the supplementary feed, provided that good forage is available and that the production system supports good welfare of the poultry. A crop rotation system was suggested

Growth and sensory characteristics of alternative genotype broilers reared in organic orchards

The effects of age, sex and genotype on growth and sensory characteristics in organically produced broilers, when kept considerably longer before slaughtering, were examined. A total of 450 birds consisting of three genotypes, Light Sussex, New Hampshire, and the commercial strain I 657 were inserted at Fejoe Research Orchard. Half the birds were slaughtered at 91 days of age and half at 120 days of age. I 657 was significantly heavier compared to the slower growing breeds and Light Sussex was significantly heavier than New Hampshire. Males were significantly heavier than females across genotype, but weight ratios differed with genotype. No overall effect of genotype was found on the flavour or smell of the breast meat, but the commercial strain went towards a tougher and less tender consistency at 120 days of age, whereas the opposite was the case for the slower growing pure breeds. The positive flavour of salt was significantly improved at 120 days of age across genotype and age, with females having saltier flavour than the males. The positive flavour of sweet corn was improved in the meat from the males, but the positive smell of sweet corn was significantly improved in both males and females. No negative consequences of age were found

Integration of organic animal production intor land use with special reference to swine and poultry

The development in organic livestock production can be attributed to an increased consumer interest in organic products while, at the same time, increased farmers' interest in converting to organic production methods—often stimulated by governmental support or subsidies. It is important that organic production systems can fulfil the expectations of each of these stakeholders if organic livestock production is to increase further. This is of particular importance if organic pig and poultry production (other than egg) is to move from the present niche-production to a significant place in the food market, as in the case of beef and milk. It can be argued that the limited organic pork and poultry production is related to the fact that it is far more difficult for farmers to change the existing production systems for pig and poultry compared to production systems for cattle and other ruminants in a way that gives a harmonious balance between the different aims of organic farming. Conflicts may occur as to the most appropriate rearing practice in considerating the basic aspects of the innate behaviour of animals on one hand, the risk of pollution from the production on the other and, in addition, the aim of producing in sufficient quantities. These possible conflicts are reflected in the compromises made in national or EU regulations on organic farming. In the regulations for organic farming, the aspect of allowing a high degree of natural behaviour of the livestock is, among others, translated in the requirement that livestock, in certain periods of their life or of the year, should be allowed to graze or have access to an outdoor area. The most common outdoor systems for pig and poultry used in intensively managed organic production have some significant drawbacks in relation to environmental impact (risk of N-leaching and ammonia volatilisation), animal welfare (nose-ringed sows), high mortality in poultry and workload and management constraints. From recent experience of such systems, it is argued that there is a need for a radical development of the systems. There is a need for outdoor/free range systems (for the sake of the livestock), which are constructed and managed in such a way that the livestock, at the same time, exert a positive influence on other parts of the farming system. There is evidence that pregnant sows can fulfil their nutritional needs to a large extent by grazing, that co-grazing sows with heifers can diminish the parasite burden of the heifers, and that the pig inclination for rooting can be managed in a way that makes ploughing and other heavy land cultivation more or less superfluous. As regard poultry, there is an indication that quite big flocks can be managed efficiently in a way where the flock act as weeders in other crops or fight pests in orchards. These elements need to be further explored as a basis for future system development

Økologisk kvalitet skal retfærdiggøre merpris

Den sortbrogede danske landrace er meget forskellig fra de moderne krydsninger. Økologisk svinekød og økologiske kyllinger er betydeligt dyrere end tilsvarende konventionelle produkter. Derfor har mange forbrugere en forventning om, at de økologiske produkter adskiller sig fra de konventionelle - og at kvaliteten retfærdiggør merprisen. Det er baggrunden for, at der i projektet: Kvalitet og integritet i økologiske æg-, kyllinge- og svinekødsprodukter undersøges strategier for mere forskelligartet svine- og kyllingeproduktion

Foulum forsker i fransk fjerkræ på friland

To franske kyllingeracer viser deres værd på Gothenborg som fremtidens øko-kyllinger med vægt på velfærd og velsma

Fokus på robusthed i økologisk slagtekyllingeproduktion

Naturlig modstandskraft er vigtig i fremtidens økologiske produktionssystemer for at opfylde markedets krav og forbedre den overordnede produktivitet. Men udviklingen af et robust immunsystem vil sandsynligvis være på bekostning af andre funktioner såsom vækst og reproduktion. I Organic RDD projektet SUMMER har man undersøgt tarmsundhed og immunsystem hos forskellige afstamninger af slagtekyllinger med forskellige vækstpotentialer Deimmunologiske undersøgelser viser, at der er forskel på de basale immunfunktioner mellem afstamningerne. Den afstamning med det laveste vækstpotentiale SU51 ser ud til at have et mere robust immunsystem end den afstamning med det største potentiale JA757

Nutrient Digestibility In Organic Slow-Growing Broilers Fed With Grass And Chicory As Supplements

"At the end of an experiment with organic broilers reared under free-range conditions, a digestibility experiment was performed with a slow growing hybrid I657 including six treatments: diet C (control), C + grass, C +chicory; diet F1, F1 (reduced protein) + grass, F1+chicory. No difference was found in feed intake of the diets, however, the intake of C + chicory and F1 + chicory was significantly higher (P<0.01) than for groups with no access to forage material (C + F1). The digestibility experiment showed a variation between diets as a higher nitrogen retention was recorded for all F1 diets given both supplements, chicory and grass compared to control diets (P<0.05). This indicate that the use of low protein diets in organic broiler production, with access to an attractive forage area, can reduce excess nitrogen excretion on outdoor areas, where diets with higher protein content result in higher N excretion.

Organic poultry farming - opportunities and challenges

Many different poultry breeds are kept by smallholder farmers throughout the world, some of whom are organic or agroecological, although not certified organic in all cases. Many of these breeds are locally adapted, multi-purpose, and indigenous. At a global level, smallholder agroecological or organic poultry flocks contribute to food security, protein supply, and the livelihood of many families, especially women, in many smallholder settings. This chapter introduces organic poultry farming and focusses on ways in which its practices can be improved. The chapter examines poultry as part of ecological systems and cycles and considers how the precautionary principle and concepts of naturalness can be applied to this area. The chapter examines health and disease in organic poultry farming and considers animal welfare aspects, such as fairness and good quality of life. Finally, the chapter looks ahead to future research trends in this area