Monanki Podder1and Dharma Sahu2
1PG Scholar, Department of Livestock Production Management, West Bengal University Of Animal And Fishery Sciences, Kolkata, Email- dr.monanki@gmail.com
2Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Livestock Production Management, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Hariyana, Email- dr.dharmasahu45@gmail.com
Corresponding author email- dr.monanki@gmail.com
Introduction
Organic farming is an approach to agriculture where the aim is to create integrated, humane, environmentally and economically sustainable agricultural production system producing acceptable levels of crop, livestock and human nutrition, protection from pests and diseases, and an appropriate return to the human and other resources employed. Thus maximum reliance is placed on locally or farm-derived renewable resources. Recently there has been an increase in organic animal production in many countries, this is a response to an increased consumer demand for food that is perceived to be fresh, wholesome and flavoursome, free of hormones, antibiotics and harmful chemicals, and produced in a way that is sustainable environmentally and without the use of gene-modified (GM) crops.
Poultry sector plays an important role in improving the socio-economic environment of rural people, by generating employment, particularly among the landless labourers, small and marginal farmers, women in rural areas. Now-a-days, consumers are more aware of safety and quality of food products consumed by them. They are more interested to safer products without thinking to pay more. So, the production of safer poultry products is very much important. Organic poultry farming thus can help us to produce safer poultry products without disturbing the poultry welfare.
Advantages of organic poultry farming
• Sustainable uses of resources
• Birds required less space and growth rate is relatively quick
• Organic chicken have fewer toxins than commercially raised poultry which contains hormones, antibiotics and trace amount of pesticides
• Recycling of organic waste is possible
• Organic chicken is healthier than non- organic chicken. It contains more omega-3 fatty acid but no preservatives or non-organic additives. It tastes better, it also prevent the spreads of anti-biotic resistant bacteria. Organic chicken is a good source of vitamin-B complex i.e. vitamin-B3, B6, B7 & B12 and it also has good amount of iron and zinc
• Organic egg is rich in vitamin, nutrients and also a part of well balanced diet. It contain more omega-3 fatty acid, less cholesterol and saturated fat
Constraints of organic poultry farming
• Lack of knowledge about organic poultry farming among the farmers
• Supporting infrastructure lack of adequate financial support, inadequate local certifying agencies and lack of marketing channels
• Training facilities for farmers are not sufficient
Some important factors for starting up organic poultry farming
Poultry breeds
Indigenous / local breeds are used for organic farming. Genetically engineered breeds are not used in organic farms because they are susceptible to many diseases. Natural breeding method should be used and to improve fertility, artificial insemination can be used under guidance of technical experts.
Housing management
Organic housing aim to give an environment for poultry, where they can perform all normal behavioural pattern and also minimise the stress. Stress free condition give a positive effect on health and production. Maximum producers shut their poultry at night to protect them from predators.
There are two types of housing –
1-Mobile system with houses that can moved
2-Static system of housing where birds have an access to an outside area covered with vegetation
The advantage of mobile housing is that the birds can be moved easily to fresh grass areas so that risk of soil-borne parasites in the outside area can be kept low and the disadvantage of mobile housing is that all other production materials required need to be transported to and from the houses, which increase the labour requirement. And the cost of mobile system is higher than the static housing.
Housing design and construction should be in such a way that birds can be protected from predators. Good hygienic management is very much important. Cage and deep litter system is not allowed in organic poultry farm.
Light
Natural lighting must be available in the farm but one disadvantage is increase chance of feather pecking and cannibalism due to direct sun light. To prevent this condition, use of window in the roof is beneficial and also by placing extended roofs in front of the windows or by covering the glass with white paint. The period of artificial lighting should be extended to a maximum period of 16 hours of light whereby the length of day should be extended in the morning hour rather than in the evening hour. In this way, the majority of hens will be able to lay egg before they go out, so that the chances of eggs get contaminated with dirts are reduced.
Nutrition
Hundred percent organically grown good quality feed should be offered to the birds. All the ingredients of ration must be certified as organic except vitamin and mineral supplements which make upto 5% of the diet.
The whole process require four stages:
(i) Application of organic principles (standards and regulations)
(ii) Adherence to local organic regulations
(iii) Certification by local organic regulators and
(iv) Verification by local certifying agencies
Feed ingredients should not contain-
● Genetically modified (GM) grain or grain by-products.
● Antibiotics, hormones or drugs
● Animal by-products except milk products and fishmeal
● Grain by-products unless produced from certified organic crops
● Chemically extracted feeds (such as solvent-extracted soybean meal)
● Pure amino acids either synthetic or from fermentation sources
In organic farm, the feed that are used for poultry production must contain ingredients from three categories only:
1. Agricultural products which are produced and handled organically, most
preferably from the farm itself.
2. Non-synthetic substances like enzymes, probiotics and others recognised
to be natural ingredients.
3. Synthetic substances can be used only those that are already approved to be used in organic poultry production.
Peas, beans and rape seed can be used for protein. Other than these, oily fish meal, skim milk powder, potato protein, maize gluten can be used in organic ration as a source of essential amino acids. Sprouted grains are also a good source of vitamins, it can also replace the use of synthetic amino acids. For mineral supplement limestone and phosphate rock, oyster shell can be used in organic ration. Balance ration is very much important for healthy production.
Good quality water without any antibiotic and bacteriological residues must be available in the farm.
Health care
Good care management with good hygiene and cleanliness in farm can reduce the chances of getting infection or any kind of diseases. In organic farm, vaccination must be done when disease are known or the chances of the diseases in a particular region is very high and that can not be controlled by management. Use of antibiotics are strictly prohibited in organic poultry farm, homeopathy and ayurvedic can be used. Plant extracts like oil of black paper, oil of cinnamon, garlic oil are found beneficial to improve the digestibility of birds. Probiotics can be used, feeding of probiotics to poultry change their gut micro flora in a way that is beneficial to the health of the birds that can reduce the number of food borne pathogens carried by the birds. In hot and humid condition, chances of coccidiosis and parasitic problems are more, with good management and monitoring these problems can be solved.
Record keeping
Record keeping is very much important in any farm for checking the activities, monitoring the farm condition and also for evaluation.
Following records must be kept in organic poultry farm-Breeding records, register for source of animal purchased, organic feed ration record, purchased organic feed record, pasture record, organic meat poultry flock record, organic poultry slaughter/sales and monthly organic egg packing/ sales record.
Conclusion
The goal of organic farming is to produce environmentally friendly products, maintaining animals’ good health and welfare. Poultry is one of the fastest growing segment in today’s world and as well as there is also an increasing demand of organic poultry products among the consumers. Increasing awareness for health and well being is changing the consumer preferences from conventionally produced food to organically grown food. Population of poultry in India is huge, so, a small shift from conventional rearing to organic farming can create a huge market. Population of poultry in India is at large, that’s why movement of small part of the industry from conventional rearing to organic farming can create a huge profit in the market. India being a country of good resources, there is very high scope of organic poultry farming but there are lack of knowledge among the farmers/producers regarding this farming system and it can be overcome by gathering proper knowledge from scientific authorities.
