SUMMER chickens "on herbs"

In the organic RDD project ’SUMMER’, an experiment with organic broilers with access to a large range area with herbs has been performed. The effect of chicken genotypes with different growth rates and different feeding strategies on the animals’ feed intake, growth, welfare, health and meat quality was investigated. The results so far indicate that it is necessary to use chicken genotypes with lower growth rates for a better welfare, and the focus should be on the individual genotype and its actual nutrient requirements and utilisation of feed from the range area

Quality of foraging material and effect on hens feed intake, egg production and -quality

The study shows that different kinds of foraging material can influence both egg-production and quality in organic egg production. The composition of nutrients in the silages and carrots used in the present study was very different in content of protein, Met, starch and fibre. The particular batch of alfalfa silage used had a high content of protein and Met, which could contribute with essential amino acids. Diets based entirely on 100% organic feed ingredients could limit the supply of especially Met. Unfortunately, the alfalfa silage was also high in fibre content. The results imply the importance of using foraging material of a high quality and further studies on the quality of other types of silages or vegetables are relevant in order to obtain an optimal organic eggproduction with a high egg quality

Challenges in organic egg-production related to the nutritional quality of foraging material and introduction of 100% organic feeding

Organc hens have daily access to foraging material and the quality are important for egg-production due to varying contents of amino acids (aa) and dietary fibres (Hammershøj and Steenfeldt, 2005; Steenfeldt et al., 2007). Supplying organic hens with appropriate amounts of protein and aa can become problematic with the introduction of 100% organic feed from 2012. The interest in growing protein sources nationally has increased in Denmark in consideration of the environment. Growing soybeans nationally would reduce import. Present hen genotypes used in organic egg-production have high nutrient-requirement, so using genotypes with lower protein-requirements could have some interesting perspectives

Deposition of carotenoids in egg yolk by short-term supplement of coloured carrot (Daucus carota) varieties as forage material for egg-laying hens

BACKGROUND: Supplying egg-laying hens with different forage materials may influence egg production and quality. The aim of this study was to examine the short-term effects of standard feed plus 70 g day−1 per hen of three coloured carrot varieties (orange, yellow and purple) as forage material in comparison with a standard feed control on egg production, egg yolk colour and deposition of carotenoids in the yolk. RESULTS: Carrot supplementation reduced feed intakes significantly, but not on a dry matter basis. Orange carrot treatment significantly reduced egg mass production, whereas yellow and purple carrot treatments did not differ from the control. Egg and yolk weights of all carrot-supplemented treatmentswere significantly lower than those of the control, but yolk percentages were similar. Yolk redness increased significantly in the order control < yellow < orange < purple. A similar trend was seen for yolk yellowness, but yellow and orange carrots reached the same level. Yolk colour and carotenoid contents correlated positively and significantly. In particular, purple carrot treatment increased the yolk content of lutein (>1.5-fold) and β-carotene (>100-fold) compared with the control. CONCLUSION: Supplementing the feed of egg-laying hens with coloured carrots efficiently increased yolk colour parameters and carotenoid contents, which gives opportunities for improved nutritional value of eggs from forage material-supplemented hens

Foraging of broilers in outdoor areas (OK-Net Ecofeed Practice Abstract)

• Select plant species that are robust and adjusted to the climate such as caraway (Carum carvi), red clover (Trifolium pratense), chicory (Cichorium intybus), plantain (plantago major (broadleaf)/Plantago lanceolate (lancetleaf), ryegrass (Lolium perenne), selfheal (Prunella vulgaris), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), lu-cerne/alfalfa (Medicago sativa).  • Fencing off part of the plants might be necessary until they have reached a size that makes them less vul-nerable to birds eating leaves and smaller branches. • Planting some trees in rows from the broiler houses will encourage the birds to leave the house and spread far into the outdoor areas. • Combine trees and bushes with smaller open areas with grass/herbs or even crops that encourage foraging activity and other natural behaviour such as dustbathing, which is good for animal welfare. • Choice of genotype is important. Very fast growing genotypes are not suitable for establishing a population with active animals. • During cold winter periods, broilers are less motivated to go outside; a veranda system (winter garden), where silage can be provided, is recommended

Improved texture of breast meat after a short finishing feeding period of broilers in an organic free-range system

In order to develop an organic broiler product with high ethical value, high meat quality and based on locally produced feed, we tested if a long period without high quality protein feed followed by a finishing period with a high quality protein ration would affect the meat quality. Two genotypes were included in the experiment (The Hubbard breed ‘JA757’ and the Sasso breed ‘T851’), and only female broilers were included. The chickens were raised in groups in a free range system with more than 10 square meters per chicken covered with grass and herbs. The chickens were offered free access to either an optimized organic concentrate ration (HP) or an organic ration based on locally produced ingredients (peas, rapeseed, lupine, wheat and oat) (LP). The broilers were slaughtered at 90 days (HP) or 118 days (LP). At 90 days the LP broilers were allocated to the high quality protein ration (HP) for either four weeks (LP4) or two weeks (LP2) before slaughter. At slaughter the JA757 HP broilers were the heaviest (2827 g), and the JA757 LP broilers were not able to catch up after either 2 or 4 weeks finishing feeding with the HP ration (2248 g and 2292 g, respectively). This was different for the T851 genotype where there was no difference in slaughter weight between the T851 HP and LP2 and LP4 (average 1592 g). A sensory panel evaluated the sensory quality of the breast meat and found less firmness and fibrousness, lower chewing time and more tenderness in both genotypes offered high quality protein feed in the finishing feeding for 2 weeks in comparison with the 4 weeks finishing feeding, with the HP in between. This pattern is reflected in the daily gains the last two weeks before slaughter and suggests a positive linkage between daily gain before slaughter and tenderness post mortem

Chickens foraging in the woods

Organic chickens should forage in the woods, should increase their intake of plants and insects from attractive outdoor areas and should be revitalised with new breeds that exhibit a more natural foraging behaviour. These are some of the initiatives that will contribute to a more diverse, reliable and robust organic broiler production and which will be investigated in a new project in order to increase market share of the organic production

Bedre øko-kyllinger med nye genotyper og fodringsstrategier

Danske økologiske slagtekyllinger har stadig en lav markedsandel - mindre end én procent - selv om produktionen har udviklet sig positivt siden 2014. Skal afsætningen blive bedre i fremtiden, er der brug for både forbedringer i den eksisterende produktion og for helt nye, alsidige og bæredygtige produktionsystemer. I forskningsprojektet Multichick arbejder vi derfor på at udvikle nye funkionelle produktionssystemer, hvor kyllingeproduktion bliver kombineret med produktion af træ og energiafgrøder. Dermed kan man både reducere udvaskning af kvælstof fra kyllingernes udearealer, udnytte arealet bedre og sikre bedre dyrevelfærd. Vi vil identificere både barrierer og muligheder i hele kæden fra jord til bord og komme med forslag til, hvordan den økologiske kylling kan blive et attraktivt højværdiprodukt for forbrugerne, og endelig vil vi se på, hvordan man kan etablere alternative afsætningsnetværk

Green protein from locally grown crops (OK-Net EcoFeed Practice Abstract)

• Choose an appropriate type of green crop, such as clover-grass or alfalfa, with an expected high protein and amino acid content. Consider soil types and weather patterns to grow a crop with a good and high quality yield. • Harvest the field at regular intervals in order to achieve good plant growth and to obtain batches with more high quality protein and less fibre • Harvesting procedures, which minimise soil content in the green material obtained from the field are necessary to obtain good quality green protein and to avoid wear of machinery and technical equipment • Cooperation with a bio-refinery plant is a prerequisite in order to concentrate the protein into a green paste that can be dried and used in poultry feed. • If not dried, the wet green paste can be stored in closed containers/plastic bags in cool conditions for a shorter period. • Chemical analysis of the green protein concentrate is important in order to replace other protein sources such as soya and to carry out the correct feed formulation. This can be done together with advisors or feed companies

Silage feeding for laying hens (OK-Net Ecofeed Practice Abstract)

High-quality silage can provide nutrients for the hen and encourage natural foraging behaviour, thus reducing the risk for feather pecking. Growing protein-rich silage helps increase self-sufficiency and improve the crop rotation of the organic poultry farms. Practical recommendation • Choose the silage type(s) that provides the best yield and quality, depending on soil type and weather conditions. • The silage has to be finely chopped. • Silage generally has to be preserved under proper conditions to optimize the fermentation process. • Analyse the protein content of the silage and other nutrients if possible. • Avoid silage with anti-nutritional factors. • Investing in an automatic feeding system (robot) is recommended for larger flocks to distribute the silage evenly and encourage the hens to eat it. • Including the chemical content of the silage in the feed formulation could be an advantage, when feeding higher amounts per hen per day (>20 g per day)