July 24, 2014 – Modesto, CA

You can find a lot of information from ‘believers’ of the organic movement about the benefits of non-GMO and organic feed in raising your animals and of course, it sounds believable. It’s not hard to get behind concepts like less crowding, cleaner pens, natural foods, etc. But is there real evidence to back up the belief? Will my birds really be better off, with better growth and/or better eggs? How about my pigs, goats or dairy herd? You could say that believing in organic gives me a good cause and an intuitive confidence but regarding animal health and performance, I’d like some good data too. Wouldn’t you?

Of course, organic feed is only one of many elements that contribute to raising animals organically but it is a key element. When Troy Knoblock, a farmer who raises hogs in Iowa switched to non-GMO (not as good as Organic but closer – see our earlier blog on that topic) he didn’t think there would be much if any difference. In fact, he says, “We laughed about it.”

But he did see differences in the health of his sows and young hogs. Keeping extensive records of his operation, he noted that drug treatments for illnesses were cut in half, conception percentage rates increased from the 80s to the 90s and the size of the litters increased. Hmm

You’d think this news would have spread like wildfire but he says that, “an atmosphere of fear has been created that discourages farmers. It’s such a scare tactic,” he says. “Many farmers are afraid to try it.” In fact, two additional farmers like Troy described similar improvements but did not want their names revealed. Hmmmm (INFOWARS.COM, JUNE 15, 2014)

Now, I doubt there’s any conspiracy going on here. People get used to doing things a certain way in this business and changes like the organic movement brings aren’t adopted overnight. Nevertheless, as evidence mounts, organic feed makes more and more sense. Jordan Tate, CEO of Nature’s Way Feed asserts, “I’ve noticed a decline in mastitis issues from some of my clients’ cattle and goat herds, an increase in milk production as well as quality of milk. There is also better quality of eggs and poultry meat.”

You and I both know that many consumers prefer to buy organically produced eggs rather than inorganically produced eggs, due to the belief that organic eggs are larger. One recent study was conducted to verify the validity of this theory by comparing egg size in hens fed organically and inorganically; the intent being to allow producers to learn whether organic production is more effective than inorganic production.

The control group contained 140 hens and the experimental group contained ten hens. Eggs were collected every day. Eggs collected on Tuesday’s and Fridays were used for data. Eggs from each group were then weighed and averaged. The results showed that overall, on average; the organic eggs were 1.6 grams larger than the inorganic eggs. (http://animalsmart.org/docs/default-document-library/organic-poultry-production.pdf?sfvrsn=0)

In another study, on 140 slaughter-age birds randomly selected from seven organic and seven conventional flocks researchers measured five conventional animal-based welfare indicators (tonic immobility duration, latency-to-lie, and condition of the foot pad, hock, and breast).

The organically raised birds had better scores for hock condition and a longer latency-to-lie indicating better leg health. In addition, organic birds scored better on the aggregated welfare index (i.e. the average of the five standardized welfare indicators). Whatever the causes, the findings suggested that, despite a potentially elevated risk of immunological challenge, broiler chicken welfare is generally superior in organic farms as compared with conventional farms. (Animal Sciences, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research, 9090, Melle, Belgium)

In a third study, the prevalence of fecal Salmonella and anti-microbial Salmonella was lower in certified-organic broiler chickens than in chickens that were conventionally raised, (Journal Foodborne Pathogens and Disease). The authors noted that “in consumers’ minds, organic foods appear to be a safer alternative to conventional poultry.” In performing this study, they wanted to determine whether that perception had any scientific basis.

The overall prevalence of Salmonella across all farms, sample types, and age group was 4.3% (13/300) in organic broiler farms compared to 28.8% (115/400) in conventional broiler farms. The study also revealed significant findings regarding anti-microbial resistant Salmonella. The authors reported 36 percent of conventional versus 25 percent of organic Salmonella samples were found to be resistant to streptomycin. Additionally, zero organic samples versus 39.7 percent of conventional samples had multidrug resistance to six antimicrobial agents: ampicillin-streptomycin-amoxicillin/clavulanic acid-cephalothin-ceftiofur-cefoxitin. (Food Safety News MARCH 29, 2011)

So now I don’t need to beat the ‘scientific study’ tom-tom too hard. All of us want to ‘do the right thing’ for our animals and for our customers or families. And now you have a little bit of good data to back up your ‘good feelings’ about the value of organic feed to your flocks and to their performance.

June 2, 2014 – Modesto, CA

Whether or not a ‘back to the earth’ sentiment is important to you, healthy eating probably is. People all over the country are growing organic produce in their backyards and now many are raising chickens for fresh eggs. Now, three hens can provide a family of four with plenty of eggs, but as you’re imagining the delicious smell of those scrambled or sunny-side up delicacies, here are a few of the considerations you should ponder in raising backyard chickens.

You’ll need a henhouse. Allow at least 1 ½ to 2 square feet per chicken inside and eight to ten square feet of yard outside. Make sure you have the floor sit at least 2 ½ feet off the ground. This prevents rotting and provides shade to the birds during the summer. Some people recommend cedar for the floor but the rest of the structure can be pine. Avoid use pressure treated wood as it contains unwanted chemicals. Grating can help with necessary air circulation and you’ll need a door or two for the hens and another for people to have access to clean the coop. Provide a nesting box for each three birds. Finally, because the hens are vulnerable to predators, especially at night, be sure to secure the henhouse and the pen area (some critters like to dig under fencing). Clean your coop at least twice a month and clean your hands and shoes afterward for good hygiene.

Each chicken requires about ¼ cup of organic feed per day and a good supply of fresh water. Most hens start laying at about six months and will lay at the highest frequency during the following year. This will give you about four to seven eggs per week for each but will vary with the seasons – tip: use a red lamp in the coop during the winter months to stimulate egg production. Aside from the initial one-time cost of setting up your henhouse, backyard poultry farmers estimate a cost of about $3 per dozen for their eggs. Recent studies have shown that these eggs, coming from chickens given enough space to peck for food are significantly more nutritious than industry-produced eggs. They contain two to three times more omega-3 fatty acids and one-third the cholesterol. In addition, they contain less saturated fat, more vitamin E, beta carotene and vitamin A.

Of course, your chicken’s waste make a great addition to your compost pile as well or use it in your garden as fertilizer. In addition, those hens will gladly pluck up any unwanted insects and pests in your yard.
So, there are many breeds available to choose from and no, you don’t have to have a rooster to get eggs. In fact, unless you want more chicks, hens are all you need. Keep in mind that each breed has a different personality and rate of egg-laying. Some authorities say that the brown egg laying breeds tend to be more social and docile. Some people prefer to raise their birds from chicks. They assert this helps the chicks establish a pecking order and become used to having humans around. If you take this path, you’ll need to provide the chicks with additional heat and special feed until they’re older.

Are they noisy? Actually, no, not if you stick with hens. Even roosters only crow in the morning. Hens will cluck after laying but it’s considerably less noisy than a dog’s barking. How about odor? Well, if you raise thousands of chickens, you’re going to have a pretty good stink, but backyard operations are no worse than having a dog. In fact, an average dog produces 12 ounces of solid waste daily while an average hen will produce only 1.5 ounces.

So check your municipal code about raising chickens and see urbanchickens.org for more information. Are delicious healthy eggs from your own backyard in your future?

April 5, 2014 – Modesto, CA

To be sure, there are a lot of people asserting the value of organic food but does this extend to livestock and if so, how?  Is organic feed for poultry really important?

To answer this, let’s start with some basics on organic chickens.  It’s commonly understood that one of the best ways to ensure your chickens are healthy is by feeding them an organic diet.  In fact, organic poultry feed is a requirement if poultry is to be labeled organic.  On a certified organic chicken farm, the poultry feed is not allowed to contain any hormones, meat and meal, manure or urea.

But is a “free range” chicken the same?  No, don’t mistake “free range” chicken for organic.  Actually, the only common feature of free-range and organic chicken is that free-range birds are allowed some degree of access to open spaces instead of being cooped up all the time.  Besides that, free-range chickens are still often raised mostly inside, are given ordinary non-organic pre-mixed feed and can be dosed with antibiotics to prevent illness, or with growth hormones to increase weight.  In contrast, organic chickens are only given certified organic grain-based feeds that are free of additives.

So then what are the benefits to people?  Glad you asked.  Pfeiffer, the original authority on biodynamic farming, asserted that chickens fed organic grain began laying earlier, and at faster rates.  In fact, they laid twice as many fertile eggs, and the eggs kept better.  In similar academic research, chickens fed organic food were of significantly greater weight after 32 weeks.  It also showed that the weight of their eggs and egg yolks were greater (Plochberger, 1989).   Many consumers attest that an organic egg not only has a better appearance but tastes better and is healthier.  In fact, a 2001 study at the University of Perugia, Italy, found that chickens raised organically actually taste better.

Organic chicken meat contains up to 65% less fat than non-organic.  This leaner chicken means better value for your money, faster cooking time and offers healthier choice of protein.   Moreover, studies indicate that organic chicken actually contains “good” fats – particularly polyunsaturated fats and Omega-3 fatty acids – that lower cholesterol, as well as more Vitamin A. But that’s not all, the best chefs assert that organic chicken is better in flavor – that’s according to the American Culinary Federation.

So there’s a lot of ‘up-side’ for people, but how about the birds?  One of the greatest benefits of choosing organic chicken feed is all the things that it does not include, such as animal by-products, unhealthy chemicals, pesticides, and fillers.  Organic chickens are raised ethically and humanely. Instead of being cooped up in overcrowded henhouses or in hatches (called battery cages) known as  “factory farms,” they are more frequently allowed time and space to range in the open and to forage for grass, seeds, insects, and worms after their scheduled feed.

If organic chickens are given mixed feed, every ingredient has to be certified as organic.  And it bears repeating, organic chickens are not given antibiotics, growth hormones, or vaccines, nor are they given any routine or preventative veterinary treatments.  And in following, no additives are introduced into the meat after the chicken has been killed.  As an added plus, by eating organic chicken, you also make an indirect but significant contribution to environmental conservation.  Since the chickens are reared in cleaner and more hygienic surroundings, as close to nature as possible, there are also fewer flies and insects to spread disease.

And that leads us to consumer health – children and fetuses are most vulnerable to pesticide exposure because their immune systems, bodies, and brains are still developing.  It’s widely understood that exposure at an early age can cause developmental delays, behavioral disorders, and motor dysfunction.  In addition, pregnant women are more vulnerable due to the added stress that pesticides put on their already taxed organs. Plus pesticides can be passed in the womb from mother to child, as well as through breast milk. Some exposures can cause delayed effects on the nervous system, even years after the initial exposure.

Now, most of us have an accumulated build-up of pesticide exposure in our bodies due to numerous years of exposure. This chemical “body burden” as it is medically known may lead to health issues such as headaches, birth defects, and added strain on weakened immune systems.  Because of this, it’s helpful to understand what the federal government allows in feed or to be used in conventional production:

• Broiler chickens – antibiotics, animal byproducts, pesticides, arsenic-based drugs (growth hormones are prohibited)
• Egg laying hens – antibiotics, animal byproducts, pesticides, arsenic-based drugs

And then there’s Samonella – nasty stuff! “Two recent studies performed independently of each other confirm that organically produced food is safer and can actually save money in the long term. A report from the University of Florida has found that salmonella is the leading disease-causing pathogen found in food, leading to more than $3 billion every year in public health costs. Salmonella is a microbe that is often found in poultry and egg products. An unrelated study, published in November of last year by the University of Georgia, found that there is a significantly lower rate of salmonella contamination in organic chickens compared to conventional chickens. Taken together, the results of these two studies reveal the potential for organic poultry farming to significantly reduce the risk to human health from food pathogens, as well as the cost to society of treating and eliminating those pathogens.”  — Beyond Pesticides, May 13, 2011

The University of Georgia’s Center for Food Safety released a study showing the comparative rates of salmonella contamination in both feces and feed at organic and conventional broiler poultry farms. There were three organic and four conventional farms included in the study, all owned by the same company. The researchers found that:

• In examining fecal samples, 38.8% of those from conventional farms contained salmonella, compared with only 5.6% from organic farms.
• For feed, the results were similar: 27.5% of feed on the conventional farms had salmonella, while only 5% of organic feed was contaminated.

The study also examined the prevalence of salmonella that are resistant to antibiotic treatment and compared the results of organic versus conventional. Alarmingly, the results showed that:

• Resistance to the antibiotic streptomycin is 36.2% at conventional farms, compared to 25% at organic.
• Perhaps even more significant, multidrug resistance to six different antibiotic treatments (ampicillin, streptomycin, amoxicillin, cephalothin, ceftiofor, and cefoxitin) is at 39.7% on the conventional farms, whereas none of the organic birds show resistance to this combined treatment.

So as you can see raising poultry organically has huge advantages.  Let’s finish with a just few feeding tips:

Broilers

• We recommended that the starter diet be fed for the first four weeks of age.  After that, birds from four to six weeks old can be fed a mixture of half starter and half finisher.  Finally, from six weeks to market, the finisher feed should be used.
• Approximately, 6.5 lb of starter and 20 lb of finisher are needed to produce a roaster with a live market weight of about 9 lb or a carcass weight of about 6 lb.

Layers

• The 16% protein feed for laying hens should be fed from the start of egg production on through peak production and up to the point that egg production has declined to 85%.
• At 85% production, the flock will average about six eggs per week from each hen. In a good flock, the birds can stay at or above this production level until 45 weeks of age.  The 14% protein laying hen diet can be used after egg production dips below 85%.