Sheepdrove Organic Farm (SOF) introduced a silvo-poultry enterprise in 2002. This report describes the system as observed by Vanessa Pegg and makes recommendations for improvements to the system. Specific ad hoc reports will also be produced on specific issues as Vanessa’s work progresses

Pearce, Bruce

Pegg, Vanessa

English

Organic Eprints

           Silvo-Poultry:   An Agroforestry System for Organic Chicken Production at Sheepdrove Organic Farm.   Lois Philipps  Final Report May 2002.                              Sheepdrove  Organic Farm     Confidential Final Report  Page 1  31/05/02 ‘having looked at the plans and agree that this appears to be an excellent system for producing poultry’ J Hancock SA Cert,    1. Introduction  1.1.  The published objectives of DEFRA are to promote sustainable development, which means a better quality of life for everybody now and for generations to come, including:  1.1.1.  A better environment  1.1.2. Economic  prosperity   1.1.3.  Thriving economic communities in rural areas.  1.2.  It is the intention of this project to develop a system that not only delivers these objectives, but which also meets the behavioural needs of the chickens by providing an environment that is closer to their original habitat.  The domesticated chicken has evolved from a ground-dwelling forest fowl that inhabited forest clearings and woodland edges.  Therefore we need to re-create a woodland-style environment within the context of a commercial organic farm.   The requirements are to provide an environment for chicken production that meets the following objectives:  1.2.1.  To provide living conditions that allow chickens to express their basic behaviour, by establishing a woodland edge habitat 1.2.2.  To supply food sources for nutritional and health benefits for the chickens from a variety of sources, trees, shrubs, herbs as well as grass/clover leys 1.2.3.  To provide an enriched landscape for the farm to encourage an increase in biodiversity 1.2.4.  To provide a community asset in terms of landscape and the opportunities to gather hedgerow fruits.  2. Rationale  2.1.  Poultry production in the UK has developed into a highly specialised and industrial process with little regard for the behavioural and physiological needs of the birds. Even the less intensive free range systems have tended to be modifications of the industrialised model.  2.2.  Organic poultry production in the UK is governed by the EU Regulations for organic livestock production. Despite the underlying IFOAM principles that organic production systems must allow the animals to exhibit their natural behaviour and provide for their physiological needs, UK organic poultry production tends to mimic the free-range systems with some modifications in terms of beak trimming, flock sizes etc. If organic farming systems are to develop there is an urgent need to redesign organic poultry production systems.  It is essential that the birds are kept and managed in such away that the animals, the farmer and the wider environment benefit from the production methods.  It is for these reasons Confidential Final Report  Page 2  31/05/02 that this project is evaluating the development of a commercial agroforestry system for organic poultry production.     3. Scope  3.1.  The project has two phases. 3.1.1. Phase  1: To design a commercial agroforestry system for organic chicken production at Sheepdrove Organic Farm Berkshire. 3.1.2. Phase  2: To design comprehensive monitoring programmes to evaluate the impact of the Agroforestry system on poultry production.  4. Caveat  4.1.  The recommendations are based on scientific principle and experience but not on any existing system because this approach is the first of its kind in the UK. 4.2.  The actual recommendations are site and soil specific although the principles are transferable to other situations.    5. Site  Description    Figure 1: The Site Map Confidential Final Report  Page 3  31/05/02  5.1.  The site is on the Berkshire Downs and is largely rolling chalk downland at an altitude of 170 to 200 m. with an annual rainfall in the region of 800-900 mm  5.2. Soil Within the site there are three distinct soil types: clay with flints: thinner silty calcareous clay with flints; and a deeper colluvial silty soil.  The pH across the site ranges from 6.9 to 7.6  Field  pH  P (mg/l)  K (mg/l)  Mg (mg/l) Chicken field  8.0  30  176  56 Sarah’s Field (top) 8.2 30  187  101 Sarah’s Field (Bank) 8.3 22  122  61  Good nutrient reserves exist across the site increasing where soil is deeper.  However, although these reserves may be good, availability could be limited by high pH and calcium status.  Field Copper (mg/l) Zinc (mg/l)  Calcium (mg/l) Selenium (mg/l) Iodine (mg/l) Chicken field  1.7  3.3  4746  0.22  44.2 Sarah’s Field (top) 6.0 4.9  5351  1.00  24.3 Sarah’s Field (Bank) 4.2 4.3  4274  0.16  21.5  High levels of calcium can cause trace elements such as copper and selenium to be locked up within the soil matrix. The biological activity within the soil may also be restricted or reduced by high levels of calcium within the soil. However, the calcium enables the chickens to have an adequate supply of calcium in their diet to ensure good bone development.  Poultry manure is highly acidic and these calcareous soils provide a counter balance to the manures.  5.3. Archaeology Search of the National Monument Records database has shown no recorded sites or finds on this part of the farm.  6. Existing  system  6.1.  The chicks are brought in as ‘conventional’ day-olds and are grown on for 21-28 days in ‘brood sheds’. Once fully feathered, the birds are  moved into outside houses.  These are managed in pairs, each house having 1000 birds. A cohort of birds is therefore 2000 per batch.  They have access to grass clover leys plus supplementary cereals. The birds finish in eight weeks and are slaughtered on the farm. Confidential Final Report  Page 4  31/05/02  7.  Changes required to implement silvo-polutry system  7.1.  In order for the birds to take full advantage of the woodland-style environment, they need to be encouraged in ranging behaviour from the point where they are brought to the farm as day old chicks.  Changes to the brood sheds have been suggested to encourage and acclimatise the birds to an outdoor lifestyle. These changes have included adapting: the sheds so that the chicks can have protected access to the outside world; and playing sounds of bird songs, tractors and other livestock to the chicks in the safe environment of the shed.  These sounds are thus familiar to the chicks when they are moved to the woodland-style environment.  7.2.  The proposed changes to the poultry production system are to plant 5 avenues of trees. Each row will be 2.5 m wide and the central rows will have a combined width of 5m, separated by a central fence line.  There is then a transition from the trees, through a coppiced hedge and shrubs, to a permanent 3m wide herbal strip.   7.3.  The planting will consist of five avenues of trees, hedges and shrubs. The avenue lengths vary and are summarised in table 1 below:  Give tiles and numbers to previous tables. Table 1:  Length of Avenue and number of plants per avenue  Avenue Total  Length (m) Trees At 40 m Hedging plants At 0.3 m Shrubs 2 per m A 562  14  1873  1124 B 642  29  3880  2328 C 717  33  4380  2628 D 716  33  4373  2624 E 579  14  1930  1158  7.4.  The three central avenues will have 3 x 20 m gaps to allow access from one feeding strip to the next. This will reduce trafficking and labour time in travelling between houses.  7.5.  The whole area will be protected by fencing so individual tree guards are not required. All plants will be mulched, with Sheepdrove’s own compost, to retain moisture and suppress weed competition during the tree and shrub establishment.  7.6.  Within the houses and paddock areas perches, dust baths and grain feeders will be established to encourage the birds natural behaviour and to encourage them to roam from the houses, to take advantage of the nutritional diversity on offer in the herb, shrub and woodland areas. It is anticipated that, by ranging further from the housing, the chickens will have a more omnivorous diet, foraging for earthworms and insects that will provide them with natural sources of protein.  Confidential Final Report  Page 5  31/05/02   8.  Details of costs involved  Fencing £9835 Water supply   £17500 Cultivation Costs  £600 Standard Trees  £1695 Shrubs, coppice and hedge  £18902 Mulching £1200 Tracks and cattle grids  Prices based on quotes obtained November 2001    225m 446m Figure 2 shows the site plan.  8.1. Plants  and  Planting 8.1.1.  The trees will be planted at 40 m spacing per avenue either side of the central fence line.  The trees sizes will be 1.5 to 2 m in height. To ensure a good establishment the trees will be planted into augured holes containing a compost mix.  Where necessary the trees will be staked.  Confidential Final Report  Page 6  31/05/02 Table 2: Trees species, mix and purpose  Tree %  Mix  Purpose Ash 18   Beech  12  Timber and beech mast Field Maple  12  Shelter Alder 12  Shelter Hornbeam   10  Timber Cherry  6  Food and community interest Wild Pear  5  Food and community interest White beam  5  Shelter Apple  10  Food and community interest Scots Pine  5  Shelter  8.2. Shrub  Species  8.2.1.  The hedge will run parallel to and at a distance of 1m from the trees. The hedging species will be planted on 0.3m spacing and will be 0.6 to 0.9 m in height.  Table 3: Hedging plants, mix and purpose  Hedge Species  % Of Mix  Purpose Quickthorn 30  Shelter Field Maple  20  Shelter Blackthorn 1  Shelter Pea Shrub  10  Shelter and protein Hazel  5  Food and Community interest Dogwood 5  Food Spindle 5  Food Holly  2  Food and Community interest Vib Opulus  2  Shelter Vib Lantana  2  Shelter Wild plum  *  Food and community interest Crab apple  *  Food and community interest Dog Rose  4  Food and community interest Elder  10  Food and community interest Blackberry  *  Food and community interest Raspberry  *  Food and community interest Gooseberry  *  Food and community interest   8.2.2.  The shrub species will be planted away from the hedge in groups. The purpose of these species is not only to provide the chickens with food and shelter, but also provide harvestable fruits and wood products. The plants are similar to the hedging species but will be planted at a lower density (2 plants per m) and will be of a similar height to the hedge when planted.   However, they will require more management in the coming years. Confidential Final Report  Page 7  31/05/02 Table 4 Coppicing plants mix and purpose  Coppice Species  % of Mix  Purpose Quickthorn 10  Shelter Field Maple  1  Shelter Blackthorn 10  Shelter Pea Shrub  5  Shelter and protein Hazel  10  Food and Community interest Dogwood 5  Food Spindle 3  Food Holly  3  Food and Community interest Vib Opulus  5  Shelter Vib Lantana  5  Shelter Wild plum  5  Food and community interest Crab apple  5  Food and community interest Dog Rose  10  Food and community interest Elder  5  Food and community interest Blackberry  2  Food and community interest Raspberry  2  Food and community interest Gooseberry  5  Food and community interest  8.3. Herb  species 8.3.1.  The herbs will be planted in the spring 2002. Many of the other recommended herbs such as chickweed and shepherds purse would colonise the strip naturally.  Table 5: Herbs mix and purpose  Herb  Low, Medium or High  Purpose  Medicinal + Quinoa Medium  Nutritional Kale Medium  Nutritional Plantains High  Anti-inflammatory Wild Garlic  High  Antibacterial, Landscape Comfrey Low  Anti-inflammatory Aromatics eg Thyme High  Antiseptic, calming de-wormer Vetches Medium  Vulnerary N fixation Marigolds Medium  Anti-inflammatory Wild Strawberries  Medium  VitaminC, Community interest,  Fennel/dill Medium  Calmative Mullein Medium  Expectorant Wormwood Low  Athelmintic  Key to planting density High    More than 20 plants per house Medium  Between 10 and 20 plants per house Low  One plant per house (medicinal benefits in low plant density but poisonous at high densities) Confidential Final Report  Page 8  31/05/02  8.4.  This planting scheme will cover 1.33ha in total. In addition to the avenues, it is proposed to plant a small woodland block adjacent to the trackway, thus providing an additional 1.31ha of woodland.  However, as this land is currently receiving grant aid under the Organic Farming Scheme, and will continue to do so for the next 2 years, we suggest that this woodland block is planted after the organic farming scheme money expires, as this would give the possibility to apply for farm woodland grant money on this area at that time.    Figure 3 shows the planting plan detailing the agroforestry and herbal strip environments       Confidential Final Report  Page 9  31/05/02 9. General  monitoring  Photographic records before and after  Video film for behaviour studies Publicity Score sheets for behavioural change need evidence not just anecdotes, marketing opportunity  9.1  Monitoring Soil, Plant, Animal, Human And Environment  9.1.1  Soil Monitoring Programme  Objective: To monitor and evaluate change over time.  Approach: Structure of the sampling protocol can either be fixed points or random representative samples.  However, sampling should include all areas of the system, under trees, hedge, shrub, herb and grass ley areas as well as from under the houses.  Sampling includes: •  Soil nutrient status •  Soil structure •  Soil biodiversity Year 1 Protocol development Establishment of baseline data for nutrient, soil structure and soil biodiversity  Year 2, 3 Implementation of monitoring programme   9.1.2  Plants Monitoring Programme Objective: To monitor and evaluate change over time. This is a key monitoring objective as it not only impacts on the accumulation of knowledge and understanding of the functioning of the system but also contributes directly to management decisions It is recommended that a sampling protocol is established and implemented in year 1 of the silvo-poultry system to establish a baseline data set.  Approach: Transects or fixed quadrats to monitor establishment, plant community development (mosaic and structure). The sampling programme should measure plant numbers, the relative contributions of individual species to the overall community, in terms of biomass production and the nutritional quality of plants. Sampling would be conducted on an annual basis; May/June would be the most suitable time.  9.1.3  Animal Monitoring Programme Objective: To monitor and evaluate change over time. This is a key monitoring objective as it not only impacts on the accumulation of knowledge and Confidential Final Report  Page 10  31/05/02 understanding of the functioning of the system but also contributes directly to management decisions.  It is recommended that a sampling protocol is established and implemented in year 1 of the silvo-poultry system to establish a baseline data set as against the animal performance data collected from the existing ‘conventional organic system’. •  Performance •  LWG •  Health •  Nutritional •  Microbiology- methodology to be developed, advice needed Richard Young, VEERU •  Analysis before during, after coccidiosis, campylobacter at appropriate intervals •  Parasitology •  Worm burdens •  Soil, sward, bedding, and hens •  Sampling may show initial increases BUT then a decline as system becomes established.  9.1.4  Human Monitoring Programme The first year will be a developmental year researching and establishing protocols and identifying potential collaborating partners to develop the ‘human monitoring’ programme. The major resource implication for this component of the research programme would be staff time plus some consultancy costs and travel  Areas considered important for evaluation •  Staff •  Economics •  Public perception (CCRU Survey maybe) •  Marketing •  Human quality, taste, texture etc  9.1.5  Environment Monitoring Programme The biodiversity monitoring programme should be developed in conjunction with the Sheepdrove biodiversity officer.  It would be looking to monitor changes in population and distribution of key species eg voles in relation to predator species such as barn owls.  It would also be important to monitor pest and vermin species that might impact on the chicken production system.  One of the potential problems of a silvo-poultry production system is that it is likely to increase fox numbers.  The development of a monitoring programme for gaseous emissions and the impact of the new system on landscape and local climate are long-term considerations  Confidential Final Report  Page 11  31/05/02 9.1.6 General  Project Management To ensure that the project during the three year funding period provides value for money and high quality output and is delivered according to the project plans, there will be two project steering committee meetings a year.   9.1.7 Staff   Dr Bruce Pearce To oversee this project within the context of all R&D work at Sheepdrove  Ms Lois Philipps  Project manager with responsibilities for soil and nutrient aspects of the project. Input to the project 36 days/year  Post Graduate Researcher (to be appointed) To be responsible for the livestock and human monitoring programmes Input to the project 90 days/year  Mr Jason Ball To be responsible for the biodiversity monitoring programme  Dr Cindy Engle Consultant with input at the steering committee level Input to the project 5 days/year  Prof Martin Wolfe Consultant with input at the steering committee level Input to the project 3 days/year  Costs Resources  £ per annum Staff Input  £17,400 Consumables, (soil analysis etc)  £3,000 Total Costs  £20,400  9.1.8 Output The project will provide annual reports Articles for the popular and trade press Technical briefings for advisers, certification bodies and policy makers Presentations will be offered to organic and other scientific conferences The project will provide material for the Sheepdrove and EFRC websites EFRC Bulletin articles Presentations will be made at Sheepdrove and EFRC open days    Confidential Final Report  Page 12  31/05/02 10. Conclusion  The development of the silvo-poultry system at Sheepdrove Organic farms should be used to demonstrate how organic standards could be developed for organic poultry production.   The development of the silvo-poultry system should also be used to inform policy makers on the potential developments that could be encompassed within the agri-environment framework.  Finally the site should be used to inform consumers about the conditions and circumstances in which their food is produced.    11. Acknowledgements  We thank Juliet and Peter Kindersley for their interest, enthusiasm and backing for this project, and the farm staff for their positive and active co-operation. We also thank Prof. Martin Wolfe and Dr Cindy Engel for their thoughts and contributions to this work.     Confidential Final Report  Page 13  31/05/02 

SUMMARY OF SHEEPDROVE ORGANIC FARM SILVO-POULTRY PRODUCTION SYSTEM

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