Effects of organic husbandry methods and feeding regimes on poultry quality

Helen Hirt and Esther Zeltner, FiBL, Switzerland and Carlo Leifert, Newcastle University, UK 

Over the last 40 years conventional poultry (and in particular chicken) production has undergone the most extreme level of intensification of all major livestock production systems. This was driven by a more rapid increase in demand for poultry meat (which was perceived by consumers as leaner and healthier) and to a lesser extent eggs, compared to other livestock products (e.g. red meat, milk), which often saw unchanged or decreasing consumption patterns (Frazer, 1996 Tilman et al., 2002). 

However, as the negative animal welfare impact associated with caged and other intensive indoor production systems became apparent, animal welfare became a primary driver for consumer demand and product differentiation in the poultry sector. As a result, both organic and conventional free range products have achieved significant market shares and price premiums compared to products from intensive indoor production in most European countries (Hamm et al., 2002). 

More recently, a range of other quality and safety issues have been recognised by consumers and now influence poultry meat and egg buying patterns and behaviour. Most importantly this includes (i) the routine use of antibiotics as growth promoters and curative medicines and the potential for development of transferable antibiotic resistance, (ii) risk associated with enteric pathogen (e.g. Salmonella and Campylobacter) and toxin (e.g. dioxin) contaminants of poultry products, (iii) the environmental impact of poultry production and (iv) the sensory and nutritional quality of eggs and poultry meat (Menzi et al., 1997 Hamm et al., 2002 Rodenburg et al., 2004 Horsted et al., 2005). 

There is still significant controversy within the organic poultry sector/ industry about the level of extensification that should be achieved and there are significant differences in standards (especially with respect to flock sizes/stocking densities, level access to the outside and pasture and feeding regimes) used by different organic sector bodies. 

---

Effects of organic husbandry methods and feeding regimes on poultry quality... 

---