Transcript Production Issues - North Carolina Cooperative Extension

Production Issues
Feed Issues
• Optimal health
• Optimal growth
• Different formulations for standard poultry
breeds and industrial strains
• Different formulations for grow-out,
maintenance, breeder, and layer
Feed Issues
• All vegetarian feed
• Custom milling
• Inventory management
• Delivery to farmers
Animal Welfare
• Deep personal commitment
– fitting animal welfare with food production
• Why did I choose to work with AWI?
• What are my obligations?
• Benefits?
• Downsides?
Pasture Production
• What is pasture-reared
– According to USDA
– According to Frank Reese, Jr.
• Why is this important?
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Fitting production system with the breed
Animal welfare
Selection for outdoor heartiness and disease resistance
Human health
Pasture Production
• Benefits?
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More humane
Sunlight
Diverse diet
Selects for healthy immune systems
• Downsides?
– More exposure to disease
– Predators
– Escapees
Pasture
management
Environmental
stewardship
Days to Market
• Heritage Turkeys = 24 – 28 weeks
Days to Market
Barred Plymouth Rock and Dark Cornish chickens
= 15 – 16 weeks for males
= 16 – 18 weeks for females
Days to Market
• Jersey Giant
Chicken
– 24-28 weeks to
market
– Large roasting
chicken
Days to Market
• Aylesbury & Rouen Ducks
– 18 – 28 week
– Hatch March, April, May
– Process Oct 1, then every 2 weeks until
done
– Best if processed after killing freeze
Days to Market
• Dewlap Toulouse & Emden Geese
– 32-36 weeks
– Hatch April – May
– Process early December
GSTR Grower Rules
For Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks and Geese
1. All the birds are true heritage birds and are certified by a
American Poultry Association licensed judge to meet the
Standards of Perfection.
2. All birds are raised by a single family farm.
3. All birds are allowed to run free on green pastures, this is
both grower birds and breeder birds.
4. All birds are fed an all vegetable diet. No animal byproducts.
GSTR Grower Rules
For Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks and Geese
5. All birds are tested for antibiotics and pesticides before
butchering.
6. All grower and breeder birds shall have roost and no bird
should have to sleep on the ground.
7. All birds we have access to shelter to protect from
weather.
8. All farms shall be visited by Good Shepherd Ranch at
least once if not twice a year.
9. All farmers shall be members of National Poultry
Improvement Programs (NPIP).
GSTR Grower Rules
For Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks and Geese
10. All farmers will feed the proper feed formula, that is for
the type of poultry they raise. The formula will be
designed for them by GSTR.
11. Farmers may not at anytime bring in outside birds to
their farm without permission from GSTR.
12. Farmers must have a plan if disease shows up on the
farm and let GSTR know at once.
13. All poultry is to be respected and treated humanely.
GSTR Grower Rules
For Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks and Geese
14. When loading or moving birds for any reason the birds
are to be moved with care and not over crowded.
15. No birds are to EVER have their beaks cut, wings
clipped or toe nails removed.
16. No artificial insemination of any kind will ever be used
on the breeding farms.
17. No sexing of birds by vent method.
18. No shipping of live chicks, ducklings, goslings or poults
through the mail.
GSTR Grower Rules
For Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks and Geese
19. Killing of sick or damaged birds shall be done quickly
and with humane treatment.
20. Anyone not following the rules of GSTR can have all of
their birds taken from them at any time by GSTR.
Additional rules apply to breeder farms.
Oct. 19th 2005
Quality Control
• What do quality birds from farmer look like?
• Who makes this call?
• What happens if quality isn’t met?
• How is this addressed?
• How is this handled to prevent fracturing
relationships?
Calculating Losses
In confinement (assuming excellent husbandry)
• Industrial Corn X Rock = 10%
• Industrial Broad Breasted Turkeys = 10%
On pasture (assuming excellent husbandry)
• GSTR Barred Plymouth Rock = 2%
• GSTR Dark Cornish = 2%
• Heritage Turkeys = 10%
• Industrial Broad Breasted Turkeys = 15%+
Motivation
• Why do farmers want to work with GSTR?
– Enjoy these birds – active, pretty
Light Brahma Cock
White Laced Red Cornish
History with standard breeds and varieties
Experience with free-ranging
To honor an ancestor or mentor
Motivation
• Care about
conservation &
biodiversity
• Remember the flavor
from childhood
• Want to see these
breeds doing the jobs
they were bred for.
Barred Plymouth Rock Cock