CONCEPT OF ORGANIC POULTRY PRODUCTION IN INDIA
Post no-527 Dt09/01/2018
Compiled & shared by-DR RAJESH KUMAR SINGH ,JAMSHEDPUR, 9431309542,rajeshsinghvet@gmail.com
INTRODUCTION
In recent days there has been an increased health concern over quality of milk, meat and egg products due to the
presence of various pesticides, insecticide, chemicals, drugs and hormone residues. Due to this organic livestock farming is
increasing at rapid pace worldwide with faster growth in demand of organic milk, meat and eggs products. Organic livestock
farming is most suitable to our Indian conditions because of indigenous technical knowledge and practices followed by
Indian farmers. In order to make organic livestock and poultry farming successful there is a need to take care of certain
issues, like health management, record keeping, breeding strategies, certification, cost of production and cost of inputs etc. Increased consumer awareness of food safety issues and
environmental concerns has contributed to the growth in
organic farming over the last few years, although it only
represented around 3 per cent of the total agricultural area.
Now-a-days quality and health conscious consumers are
increasing and they need environmentally safe, chemical
residue-free healthy foods, along with product traceability and
a high standard of animal welfare. These can be ensured by
organic production methods. Organic farming can provide
quality food without adversely affecting the soil health and the
environment. Organic livestock farming should not necessarily
be interpreted to mean that the foods produced are healthier,
safer or all natural. It simply means that the products follow the
defined standard of production and handling, although surveys
indicate that consumers consider the organic label as an
indication of purity and careful handling. In order to make
organic livestock farming a success, there is need to take care
of certain points, like reducing the paper work and cost for
certification; sourcing of organic inputs like feeds and fodder,
disease prevention, cost of production and maintaining animal
health etc.
The major aim of Animal Husbandry is production of food. Some body says we live for food, others say food is essential for life. Whatever it may be what’s more important is “As the food so is the mind; as the mind so is the thought; as the thought so is the action”. Life first came into existence into sea; sea contains 72 natural elements. Animals, plants and humans contain 72 trace elements. Food should contain natural elements.
Nature is the mother of human race. Life has evolved as part of the natural processes. It plays a dominant role in providing things for the survival of mankind. For sustainability, the holistic approach is needed which follows “coexisting principle”. Otherwise, mother Earth will be perturbed.
Organic Farming is a common sense farming which requires mind set tuning only. It is all
about our realization with the nature rather, rediscovering the traditional wisdom. The most notable
characteristic of organic farming is the emphasis on the production process rather than a product
itself. “Organic” does not refer to the term used in chemistry. The primary aim is to find ways to grow
food in harmony with nature. The term organic is “best thought of as referring not to the type of inputs
used, but to the concept of the farm as an organism, in which the component parts – the soil minerals,
organic matter, micro-organisms, insects, plants, animals and humans interact to create a coherent
and stable whole”.
The first “scientific” approach to organic farming can be quoted back to the Vedas of the
“Later Vedic Period”, 1,000 BC to 600 BC. The essence is to live in partnership with, rather than
exploit, nature. The “Vrikshayurveda” (Science of plants), the “Krishishastra” (Science of agriculture),
and the “Mrigayurveda” (Animal science) are the main works. Here agriculture was not developed just
as a production system, but as a culture. Animal Husbandry was an integral part of farming practice.
FACTORS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IN ORGANIC POULTRY PRODUCTION
Analyze nutritional and health benefits of pastured poultry.
Alternative processing and cooling for poultry, including on-farm, outdoor, and mobile units.
Nationwide inventory of organic poultry processing facilities.
Potential markets.
Review of innovative system designs for pastured poultry – both broilers and layers.
Poultry breeds adapted to pasturing.
Breed selection for amino acid utilization and growth potential.
Organoleptic (taste, smell, and visual appeal to consumers) comparison of pastured vs. Confined poultry.
Study the ration levels of flaxseed needed to produce high omega-3 fatty acids in eggs.
Poultry housing alternatives with natural ventilation.
Diagrams showing housing systems 100 percent adaptable for the disabled.
Examination of benefits of multi-species, biostacking concepts in relation to poultry keeping.
Insect controls and population dynamics due to poultry grazing/foraging activity within crop areas.
As the chicken’s digestive system is made to handle insects, seeds and grain rather than forage, concentrated feed rations are required, if the birds are to produce at required level.
High quality roughages, particularly legumes can contribute to the diet.
The largest component of any organic poultry diet will be cereal. Home grown proteins like peas, beans, and rape seed can be used of which peas offer the most scope.
With careful treatment and formulation, it may be possible to include peas in organic poultry rations at inclusions of between 250 and 300g/kg for table chickens and 150 to 200 g/kg for laying hens.
Oily fish meal is allowed in organic rations and it has higher essential amino acid content than full fat Soya. Its use in poultry rations is limited partly by cost, by restrictions on the source of the fish, by the fact that some customers require the birds to be fed on a vegetable based diet and also by concerns about fishy taints to the product.
All ingredients must be certified organic except for vitamin and mineral supplements making up not more than 5% of the diet. Vitamins and minerals are an important part of the diet, and are traditionally added and mixed into the feed. However, birds on range consume plants and earth rich in vitamins and minerals. Sprouted grains are a good source of vitamins and can be used to replace synthetic amino acids. Limestone and phosphate rock can be used as mineral source. For layers, limestone grit and oyster shell will provide the needed calcium for egg production.
Clean air, deep litter, clean water, access to outdoors and balanced rations are key factors for sound healthy birds. Overfeeding must be avoided.
Use of synthetic amino acids in poultry diet in organic production systems is prohibited. Essential amino acids can be met through feeding of organic Soya bean, skim milk powder, potato protein, maize gluten etc
Organic chickens are no different from any others when it comes to their requirement for amino acids. Poultry require amino acids for both maintenance and for growth. The proportion of the amino acid supply, which the bird’s metabolism will allocate for each purpose, will depend on a number of factors. Some of these factors will be the same for organic poultry as for non-organic, while others may differ. All other things being equal, if environmental constraints placed upon the organic chicken are equivalent to those affecting non-organic birds, then the bird’s maintenance requirement will be similar. If the bird’s diet is deficient in a specific component, a “hunger” for that component can arise. In case of methionine for example, there is circumstantial evidence that birds may peck each other’s feathers in search of amino acids when it is deficient in the diet. This in turn presets a welfare problem.
Poultry breeding for organic farming should have the following characteristics
The animals should show normal behavior in large groups
Fattening poultry should grow slowly (81 days).
Facilities common in organic farming, like free range and perches, should be used in breeding facilities.
Birds should be able to adapt to regional characteristics, like local climate.
Birds should be able to cope with changing food composition
Birds should show resistance against diseases and parasites, even if selecting for a certain trait means poorer performance in another area.
The most important environmental elements that are usually considered are that:
The hens should be kept free of infectious diseases
The hens should be kept under circumstances in which stress is reduced to a minimum.
The hens should be supplied with a sufficient amount of balanced feed.
The main problem areas in poultry husbandry were identified as:
Feather pecking / cannibalism in laying hens
Health problems in fast growing fattening birds
Endo-parasites in free-range systems
Breeds have to be identified and developed which can cope up the above said problems.
In the organic poultry meat sector, birds must be grown for a minimum period of time- usually 81 days of age.
For organic production, birds should not be caged. Free access to outside is required. Housing must provide a healthy environment that allows natural behaviors to be followed. Artificial light can be used according to the time prescribed by the certification agencies.
De-beaking and beak trimming are usually prohibited practices but some certifying agencies still allow trimming and de-beaking. While de-beaking, not more than 5mm of upper beak should be removed.
Chickens have a strong pecking order. More than 50-60 birds in a group result unstable groups, which result into pecking problems. There should be ample space for wing flapping and stretching and areas suitable for sand, dust and sun bathing. These activities keep feathers in good condition and help to reduce the number of external parasites. Birds prefer a nest, which resembles nest under cover in the wild.
Movable housing is very popular among North American organic producers, but the scope of it in India is very limited.
Clean air, deep litter, clean water, access to outdoors and balanced rations are key factors for sound healthy birds. Overfeeding must be avoided. Good sanitation with regular cleaning of poultry sheds is important. An all in – all out system is advised with one week rest.
In hot and humid climate area, coccidiosis and parasitic problems are more common. Good nutrition, ample space, good ventilation and dry litter, regular dusting and constant observation can minimize these problems.
Feather pecking and cannibalism are behavioral problems in poultry. Research carried out in organic layer flocks in Holland suggest that farmer care and environmental management are important factors in the prevention of these conditions Behavior traits are of importance in free range/organic production, when trying to create a production system, which allow hens to move around in large flocks.
The following three traits seem important:
1. Ability to go to a nest before the oviposition
2. Tendency to perform feather pecking against other hens; and
3. Tendency to perform aggressive pecks sometimes ending with cannibalism.
CONCLUSION
. As organic poultry production is not a fixed system but differs greatly from enterprise to enterprise, there is need for breeds that are flexible and can adapt to variability of surroundings
