Organic Poultry Production

When was the organic foods production act enacted?

1990

What organic meat has the largest volume of sales?

Organic chicken meat

Why does organic poultry prod have the largest volume of sales?

• short production cycle

• low price premium

• integrated prod

The organic poultry industry experienced what % of growth?

from 0.33% to 2.15%

How many certified organic layers from 1997 to 2011?

From 500k to 7.7 mil

What time period was a surge of certified organic poultry production?

1997-2011

How many certified organic broilers from 1997-2011?

38k to 6 mil

How many certified organic turkeys from 1997-2011?

750 to 224k

What does the USDA National Organic Program dictate?

How broilers, turkeys, layers, and others are to be managed/raised

What are the freedom standards poultry MUST be give?

1. exercise

2. fresh air

3. exposure to direct sunlight

Are poultry required to have access to pasture?

No

What is the exception for birds to be housed?

If weather is bad

What types of housing with organic producers use for birds?

Semi-confinement and temporary confinement

Can organic producers pasture birds?

Yes

If producers are seeking organic certification what do they need?

Organic system plan

What does the organic system plan have to do?

1. Comply with national rules

2. Describe how to manage flock, house, feed, waste, handling, health, welfare, and maintain records

Density must allow for

natural behavior

What equipment is used?

electric fence, poultry netting, feed troughs, water fountains

Does the land have to be organic?

Yes

Do the birds have to have outdoor access?

Yes

Do accurate records need to be kept for labor?

Yes

Is the operation year-round?

Yes

What are advantages of organic products?

premium prices for products, environmentally friendly, endorsed by animal rights groups

What are disadvantages of organic products?

record keeping, regulated management practices, higher feed costs

What are the bird standards?

Must be purchased day-old from conventional stock, all breeds and species or breed and hatch own

Can started pullets be purchased?

Yes but must come from certified organic breeders

Is breed selection vital to success?

Yes

What do national organic standards prohibit the use of?

Conventional medicines and treatments

Do you want a hardy or more sensitive breed?

Hardy

Is pasture raising required?

No, just compliant

What is the standard for living conditions?

"living conditions which accommodate health and natural behavior of animals”

Are outdoor cement yards compliant?

no

Is outdoor access with minimum plant cover compliant?

Yes

How long do producers keep birds on pasture?

6 months

If birds are on pasture they have to follow what pasture seeding standards?

National Organic Standards

What equipment and supplies are needed?

feeders, waterers, litter, nest boxes, artificial lights, electric fence, approved cleaners, organic certified seed-on pasture

What are the required living conditions?

exercise, escape bad weather provide fresh air, provide for natural behaviors, move birds without industry

• semi confinement shelters must be equipped with access doors so birds can move freely outside/inside

Do standards stipulate stocking density?

no

Are number of doors stipulated in standards?

no

Do standards include guidelines for artificial lighting or access to natural light and dark cycles?

no

What does the disease prevention plan look like?

can have sanitizing incubators, disinfecting brooder houses, nutritionally balanced feed

• routine vaccines are allowed for common diseases like Marek’s, Newcastle, and Coccidiosis

What do you do if birds become sick or injured?

use alternative medicine, if no other recourse can use antibiotics/other conventional treatments

For poultry to be sold as certified organic it must be processed by

facilities certified by an accredited certifying agency

Processing plants meeting USDA regulations can easily meet extra organic requirements, T/F?

true

Do poultry and eggs accepted by the processing plant have to be organic?

Yes

What needs to be done prior to processing organic poultry or eggs?

appropriate clean outs

Packaging must be free of what?

synthetic fungicides or preservatives

Can organic poultry prod be a money-making business?

yes

Do organic poultry prod need to keep track of income and expenses?

yes

What is required in record keeping?

pasture maps, history for fields, pastures, breeding stock, soil and water tests, organic status of chicks/pullets/feed/seeds, receipt or organic inputs, crop pest and disease reports, flock health records (vaccines/mortalities), vaccine labels, breeding records, cleaning agent labels, purchased feed labels, equipment and clean out, slaughter processing and verification of organic cert of facility, sales receipts/invoices

What is the biggest expenditure?

feed expenses
- certified organic poultry feed

How to reduce feed costs?

buying in bulk

What are fixed expenses?

brooder house, pens, brooders, waterers/feeders, pen moving equp

What are variable expenses?

chicks, litter, utilities, feed, marketing, labor, insurance, pasture rent, etc.

Is 1 or 5 egg rating better?

5

What does 5 egg rating mean?

exemplary, beyond organic

What does 4 egg rating mean?

excellent, organic and promoting outdoor access

What does 3 egg rating mean?

very good, organic and comply with USDA minimum standards

What does 2 egg rating mean?

fair, some questions about federal compliance standards

What does 1 egg rating mean?

noted as ethically deficient

What region has the most organic chickens?

california/nevada

What are has the most organic eggs?

South east florida area