specialty breeds for natural and organic poultry production
Post on 25-Dec-2015
237 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Natural poultry producers raise poultry in alternative production
Extensive, outdoor systems“Pastured poultry”
Natural/Organic Producers Use Conventional Poultry Breeds
• Fast-growing Cornish Cross• Developed for intensive, indoor production• Market weight of 5.5 lbs.
7 weeks indoors8 weeks on pasture
What is “Cornish Cross?”
Cornish x White Rock
Cornish male line provides breast weight, conformationRock female line provides good reproduction
Breeding Companies
• Cobb-Vantress (acquired Avian)• Aviagen (acquired Ross, Arbor Acres, Indian River)• Hubbard-ISA (acquired Shaver)• Perdue• Peterson
Broilers
Parents
Grandparents
Great Grandparents
Pedigree
Selected pedigreeNon-selected pedigree Great Grandparents
A male B female C male D female
AB maleCD female
ABCD broiler
PS
GP
GGP
Four-Way Cross
Source: Emmert, Jason. University of Arkansas
Crossing
Crossing produces hybrid vigor
Breeding companies only sell products with crossed lines for security reasons• When Grandparents breed, pure lines are crossed to
produce Parents• Pure lines cannot be reproduced from Parents• Intellectual property protection
Using Fast-Growing Broilers
Poultry companies buy parent stock, contract growers raise parents (broiler breeders), and hatch commercial chicksBreeding companies offer manuals on how to raise and feed parentsSell in large numbers
Commercial chicks are readily available from small independent hatcheries
Sold as fast-growing meat birds or roastersUsed in pastured production
Sample strains:• Hubbard White Mountain• Hubbard Hi-Y• Perdue roaster
Fast-Growth Issues
Pros:High efficiency and yield; capacity to eatCarcass conformation
Cons:Metabolic Ascites Body grows faster than organsMortalityLeg pathology Lameness, tibia dyscondroplasiaBehaviorAnimal welfare issues
Slowing Down Fast Broilers
Restrict feedUnder-formulate feedLighting programsRaise on pastureRaise only femalesRaise slower strains such as roaster lines
Pastured Poultry Comment about Fast Broilers:
“My experience is the larger Cornish Cross are poor pasture chickens. They barely stand up, walk very little and mostly sit near the feeder.They eat very little grass, don't dig or scratch. They are not a pleasure to watch. They do get BIG, however, but I have found they do not have great taste, since they don't range much. They also have health problems and die in hot weather or when they reach about 12 weeks old. I have had them several times, but always wished I had not. They will reach up to 10 pounds dressed, if feed properly and kept alive for 12 or more weeks.”
(Anon. 2003. Re: Broilers vs. cornish cross. E-mail posting to PasturePoultry listserver. June 19).
Slow-Growing Broilers
5 lbs. live weight in 12 weeks
Used in Label Rouge and organic production in Europe Label Rouge Organic production
Used internationally
International breeding companies SASSO Hubbard-ISA Kabir
Domestic
JA 57 ISA P6 N Shaver Redbro
Isacolor
Hubbard-ISA FemalesHubbard-ISA Females
Colored & Gourmet PackageColored & Gourmet Package
Www.hubbard-isa.com
Fast-growing males: I77, I99, I22, I89, Colorpac
Medium-growing males: Redbro, Mastergris, Gris Barre
Slow-growing males: I66 (red feathers, white underfeathers, white shank) S77 (red feathers, yellow shank) S86 (black feathers, white shank)
Add N for naked neck
Hubbard-ISA MalesHubbard-ISA Males
Specialty Broilers
Geographically protected genetics
Poulet de Bresse “Poultry of kings”AOC
Specialty production Milk finished
Blue shanks
Medium-Growing Broilers
9-10 weeks to reach 5 lbs liveweight
International SASSO Hubbard-ISA
Domestic
U.S. Medium-growing broilers:
Silver Cross (Kosher king): Henry Noll
Buff Silvers vs Barred Silvers: Reich
Cebe Red or Cebe Black: Joe Cebe
Hall Brothers Hatchery Redbro
Canadian hatcherywww.freedomrangers.com
Importation
Quarantine for live birds (except Canada)USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
import permitCertificate from a government vet
Quarantine is 30 days at USDA centers in Los Angeles, New York, and Miami (or private)
Quarantine usually required on hatching eggs Quarantine the hatched chicks for 30 days
www.aphis.usda.gov
Very Slow-Growing Broilers (Heritage Breeds)
See types on Internet (www.feathersite.com)
Heritage breeds not selected for commercial meat production anymore
Conservation:American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
Turkeys: An American advantage
Native to the AmericasSlow-growingNaturally mating; AI not requiredHeritage
Geographical tiesNaragansett—MABourbon Red—Kentucky
Some lines selected for meat production
Slow-growing Turkeys
Bourbon Red Royal PalmNarrangansett Eastern WildWhite Holland Broad-breastedBlack Spanish Blue Slate
Walters Hatcherywww.waltershatchery.com
Layers
No commercial layers for floor production or in large flocksAggressive behavior (pecking, cannibalism)
Laying habits
DuckGeeseGuineafowl
Behavior of Slow-Growing Breeds
Slow-growing breeds when fed a low spec ration are “moderately active” Fast-growing breeds are “inactive”
Active breeds are needed to make good use of forage• Lying 53%• Standing idle 11%• Sleeping 4%• Lie preening 5%• Eating 11%• Standing ground pecking 5%• Walking 5% (Gordon, 2002)
Mortality
In Europe, mortality of slow broilers is low
Welfare issues related to breed
Fast growth health problems
Fast-growing broilers can suffer in natural ventilation
Restrict feeding
Meat Quality
Selection for fast-growth and high yield has likely affected sensoryand functional qualities (Le Bihan-Duval, 2003)
More research has been done with hogs (PSE)
Future Selection Programs
Commercial traits (fast efficient growth and breast yield)
Consumer concerns
• Welfare issues Reduce mortality, reduce skeletal and metabolic disorders minimize pecking behavior, improve disease resistance• Environmental Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution• Quality traits Meat quality and texture, taste and leanness
Future natural/organic broiler can perform with:
An all-vegetable diet (no animal by-products)Diets that do not include synthetic amino acidsNon-optimized dietsMore open housing, uncontrolled environmentNo coccidiostatsSlower growthStronger immunity Disease-resistant birds will not need drugs or vaccines Antibiotic-free chickensFast feathering Good feathering provides insulation, protection from nicksFeather sexingMeat quality traitsGenetics adapted to particular regions
Using Slow-Growing Broilers
Feed less protein and less energy
No need to restrict feed
Maintain health statusDifferent vaccinations than fast broilersBoosters
Fast vs. Slow Broilers
Fast-grower: Superior efficiency and yield, body conformationNot active forager, metabolic problems, welfare issues
Slow-grower:Addresses consumer issues, adapted for outdoor productionGood forager, more flavor and textureMore expensive to raiseColor of pinfeathers
Obtaining Stock
Hatcheries Regional Using the postal service is a disadvantage Air shipping issues
Product Known genetics
Report what the parents are Most hatcheries buy hatching eggs on open market from brokers A few hatcheries raise parent stock Very few have own breeding program
Specialty breeds
Pastured breeders: www.shadylanepoultry.com
Straight run or sexed birds
Straight run May be cheaper Variety of sizes to sell
Sexual dimorphism Differences in performance and meat qualityMales gain faster; more problems with leg disorders and mortalityFemales have higher breast yieldMales are more aggressive; need sufficient feeder space
Hatchery Health Status:
National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) Program for hatcheries to be certified free of hatchery-disseminated diseases such as pullorum, or bacillary white diarrhea, and fowl typhoid
Active control programs• Salmonella pullorum• Salmonella gallinarum• Salmonella enteritidis (SE)• Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG)• Mycoplasma synoviae (MS)• Mycoplasma meleagridis
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/npip/
General sanitation
Other Hatchery Issues
Service (promptness in shipping, refunds)Price
Listing of hatcheries in U.S. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/npip/ http://www.poultryconnection.com/hatchery.html.
Listing of specialty hatcheriesSee “Poultry Genetics for Pastured Production”
ATTRA 1-800-346-9140
top related