ORGANIC BROILER MEAT PRODUCTION

ORGANIC BROILER MEAT PRODUCTION

Prateek Mishra (Ph.D. Scholar)

Department of veterinary pharmacology and toxicology, NDVSU, Jabalpur

INTRODUCTION

Organic broiler farming is the emerging system of rearing in all over the world. Organic farming allows exhibiting the normal behavior and also provides welfare to birds that make the birds to exhibit their natural resistant against diseases. In international trade markets, organic meat gains importance due to consumer willingness over organic products. In organic farming, 100 percent organically produced feed ingredients are used for feeding. Brooding managements can be done as similar as to the commercial broiler production. Use of antibiotics in any form for prevention or increase the productivity is not allowed in the organic production. So, bacterial resistance and residual antibiotic level in meat will be decreased. Vaccination is allowed as per certain rules are given by organic farming committee that is when disease areas are known or expected and endemic in the region where the farm is located and those diseases are cannot prevent by management. Desi breeds or locally adaptable breeds of chickens only are allowed for organic broiler meat production. Breeding techniques employing genetic engineering or against natural is not allowed. Slaughter age of organic method of reared birds is 81 days. It’s the time for farmers to think of organic meat production to safeguard the people and increase their economic level.

 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ON ORGANIC MEAT PRODUCTION

• The choice of breed, strain shall be consistent with the principles of organic farming that is their adaptation to the local climatic conditions and the socio-economic conditions and also their vitality and resistance to the disease.
• The producers shall follow an all-in-all-out system of rearing and different age group of birds, species, breed, strain should be avoided.
• Cage rearing is not permitted
• Mixed farming of poultry shall not permit in the organic broiler production.
• Brought-in birds which may be grown on the organic farm from day two onwards. The day one considers as hatch at the hatchery.
• Genetically modified or genetically engineered breeds or stains should not be used for organic production because of the gain higher body weight at a lower mean age which is against to the natural physiology.
• Organic poultry must have access to the pasture or outdoor as seasonally appropriate
• Broilers are hatched from the hatcheries which are from organic parents or offspring can be raised as organic.
• Transfer of birds between organic and non-organic units may not be permitted.

HOSING AND LIVING CONDITIONS FOR ORGANIC MEAT PRODUCTION

The broiler is maintained under natural conditions as possible, housing should be given sufficient space to ensure free movement and given an opportunity to express normal behavior. Organic meat allows exhibiting the normal behavior and also provides welfare to birds that make the birds to exhibit their natural resistant against diseases. The housing of poultry in cages shall not be permitted. The floor shall be solid construction. Code of practice for poultry housing shall be as per IS 2732:1985. Housing should be designed and constructed such a way that birds can be protected from predators. Maintaining the good sanitation condition in poultry house and regular cleaning is must. For organic poultry production birds reared only under deep litter system. Each poultry house shall not contain more than 4800 chicks. Housing should minimize the stress to the birds and provide sufficient protection against natural climatic conditions and predators. These systems may be stationary or mobile units, mobile units are famous in developed countries it has an advantage of reduces the risk of parasite and disease transmission but have a disadvantage of the use of labor power. In India stationary houses are good enough for organic production. Birds need access to the outdoor area or pasture area. Shades or shelters given either natural (trees, shrubs) or artificially (sun shelter) to the birds to encourage the range use. Outdoor stocking density and the group size should be balanced with the soil type, a productivity of the land and environment impact. The farm should be fenced with an appropriate manner which not cause harm to the birds. The positive effect on the health of birds seen under stress-free conditions. Stock density maximum of 580 chicks per hectare is permitted as per NPOP standards. Stocking density may vary with every system but the basic requirement on stocking density depends on region, general climatic conditions, production capacity, stock health, nutrient availability, environmental impact. Pop holes to the outdoor area

should measure at a minimum of 45cm x 100 cm for chicks. Other requirements for housing are as usual as commercial broiler house. Poultry must have easy to the access to an outside grazing area, fresh air, clean water, balanced ration, dust-bathing facilities and an area for scratching, and hence presents an emphasis the welfare of the animals

LITTER MANAGEMENT OF ORGANIC FOR ORGANIC MEAT PRODUCTION

Brooding of organic chicks may be by the artificial brooding method. The chicks are received within 24 hours from the hatchery. The brooding procedures are as usual as normal broiler chicks brooding. The optimum temperature for the chicks can vary depends upon their breed characteristics, so the behavior of chicken in a brooder should closely watch for their thermal comfort it is the real indicator for good brooding management. Birds should provide with dry litter material and free from any sharp objects. Dust free soft wood shavings are an ideal bedding material. The requirement of litter material is based on stocking density, birds health, ventilation, seasonal difference, birds do dust bathe to maintain their feather integrity. So the litter material should be dry as much as possible. The moisture level should not exceed 20 % if exceed it may produce distress to the birds.

BREEDING CONSIDERATIONS ON ORGANIC MEAT PRODUCTION

Poultry breeding methods shall be in accordance with and in compliance with the principle of organic farming shall be taking into account.

1. The breeds and strains most suitable for local conditions should be selected for breeding.
2. The preference for reproduction through natural mating or artificial insemination may be followed
3. Reproductive hormonal use not be permitted
4. Breeding techniques employing genetic engineering shall not be permitted
5. Breeding techniques against natural is not permitted i.e. Inter species breeding
6. Mutilation in birds are not permitted

NUTRITIONAL MANAGEMENT OF ORGANIC MEAT PRODUCTION

                       Feeding to the birds should be 100 % certified organic feed that may be purchased or produced on own. All agricultural feed products including pasture should be organic. No synthetic agents are added into the feed or water as premixer or at the time of feeding. The feed stuff should not prepare using chemical solvents and by chemical treatment. In the case of shortage of organic feed or exception situations well define analogic substance may be used. Feed stuff of animal origin like fish meal, bone meal, marine animals, animal byproducts and rendered components with the exception of milk and milk products are not to be used in the birds feed formulation. Synthetic nitrogen or non-protein nitrogen compounds should not be used. The feed provided the birds should satisfy the requirement up to 80% and also fulfill the physiological and behavioral feeding pattern of the bird.

Feed processing aiding supplement like binders, anticaking agents, emulsifier, stabilizers, thickeners, surfactants, coagulating agents, antioxidants, preservatives, coloring agents and all another feed additive which are synthetic should not be added to the feed but if it is available as a natural source it can be added to the feed.

HEALTH COVER FOR ORGANIC MEAT PRODUCTION

To maintain the flock as healthy all the management practices are followed. It provides the prevention to many diseases and increases the resistant towards some disease and provides a healthy environment. Use of antibiotics in any form for prevention or increase the productivity is not allowed in the organic production. Vaccination is allowed as per certain rules are given by organic farming committee that is when a disease is known or expected and endemic in the region where the farm is located and those diseases are cannot prevent by management. Cleanliness of the farm is the best form of defense in disease management. Alternative to the antibiotics homeopathy, probiotics, herbs, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar in water, organic turmeric added to feed to increase the health of birds. Unavoidable conditions like high mortality in flock or disease outbreak farmer can use of antibiotics with the proper advice from the registered veterinarian. But the antibiotic withdrawal time for meat is double the official conventional withdrawal time. In tropical countries when the birds are allowed to the pasture the disease like salmonella, colibacillosis, coccidiosis, and some parasitic infections are more common. To avoid these problems clean grazing system should be established. New pasture areas can be provided for each batch i.e. farmer can follow the rotational grazing methods. Any grazing area has to be kept without birds for the period of at least two months in between batches. Biosecurity of the farm is important to step to prevent the transfer of disease from farm to farm, from person to farm, from one batch to another or from wild birds to domesticate so proper biosecurity measure are followed in the farm. Conceptual, operational and structural biosecurity are followed in organic farms.

TRANSPORT, PROCESSING AND PACKAGING OF ORGANIC MEAT BIRD

The maximum transport time for living organic birds not exceed 8 hours, during transport the birds are prevented from stress, injury, thirst, fear, distress, physical and thermal comfort, pain. Uses of electric stimulations are not permitted during loading and unloading of birds. While slaughter is a concern the birds reared for meat should slaughter at the age of 81 days. Before this age slaughtering of organic birds are not permitted. The slaughter should be a humane method which minimizes stress and suffering. The slaughter, evisceration, and packing of poultry should be conducted in such manner as will result in hygiene processing. Animal must be born to organically managed dams if they are to be slaughtered for organic meat production. An irradiation method of preservation is prohibited in organic meat. Ecologically sound materials should be used for the packaging of organic meat products and labeling did such a manner it should clearly convey the accurate information about an organic status of the meat or meat product. Traditional meat quality criteria indicate a slight superior quality of organic chicken meat

RECORD KEEPING OF ORGANIC MEAT PRODUCING POULTRY FARM

Maintenance of records is used to preserve the identity of birds flock and also organic farming activities. The records are used for future reference for all kind of management. The records in farms are mainly formed by close observation of activities in a farm. Monitoring of farm activities is recorded in the following registers like parent details record, purchasing details of chick’s record, breeding record, production record, health record, sales record, formulated/purchased organic feed record, and organic pasture record.

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