American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83
ISSUE 83
September/October 2014
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Newsletter
this issue Farm Interns P.1
President’s Corner P.2
Director’s Report P.3
Want a Soy-Free Feed? P.6
Optimizing Feed Withdrawal P.9
Guide to Feeding Grit P.11
Tour of Polyface Poultry P.13
2015 Board Elections P.16
Community Corner P.20
Duck Production by Breed P.21
Farm Interns: A Polyface Point of View, Daniel Salatin’s Perspective —Christie Badger
Recently, at the Polyface Farm Field Day, I had the
opportunity to hear Daniel Salatin and several of the
past and current Polyface Farm interns and
apprentices share their thoughts and experiences on
internships on the farm. Their insights started me
thinking that having an intern on our farm could be a
real possibility.
Daniel’s first piece of advice is to know your skillset.
Specifically, he encourages those considering inviting
an intern onto their farm to “do a personal skillset
evaluation. If you’re not interested in teaching and
educating someone else, don’t have interns.”
He stressed that there is a greater responsibility to
having an intern working with you than simply having
extra hands around the farm. “If you just need
someone to help you because you have too much
work to do, then get someone to help you,” he stated.
When it comes to training future farmers, internships
are an important part of the educational experience.
Salatin notes, “This (being an intern or an apprentice)
is how people learned skill sets and learned to do
something for thousands of years.”
Communication, goal setting, daily evaluation and
teaching are keys to successful internships on the
farm, according to Daniel. “If you’re not a great
teacher, but you’re a good farmer and need help and
want an intern, find someone who is a great teacher.
Build partnerships. Everyone has skills and
strengths. Use them.”
Daniel is big on collaboration and finding the right
people for the right job. This goes for finding the right
interns to work and learn at Polyface Farm. He
encourages those seeking interns to “be specific;
don’t do it willy-nilly.” Keys to success include setting
a start and end date for the internship. In addition,
you should have a clear application process. Of
note, last year Polyface had over 500 applicants for
10 internship positions on the farm.
(Continued on page 4)
Hens at Polyface Farm.
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 2
As the summer heat rages on, we have been blessed
with an abundance of rain.
Our turkeys are in the brooder and doing well. There
are another 500 broilers on the go as well. We have
just set another batch of Rhode Island Red eggs.
As the daylight decreases, it is time to think about
extra lighting. All important parts of the poultry
keeper’s year.
We are now about to set our fall plants, mostly Cole
crops and transplanted greens. We continue to
harvest and, yes it is late, sweet potatoes. We will
plant our Christmas potatoes next week.
Your APPPA board continues to work on numerous
projects and we are now in the process of selecting
replacement board members from an excellent list of
very qualified candidates (see the recommended
candidates on page 16).
The magnet of APPPA continues to draw great people.
The business membership drives of both Fertrell and
Featherman continue to attract new members. Our total
membership is now 777, representing pastured poultry
producers across the globe.
May the fall bring abundant harvests and continued
progress from your organization.
Sincerely,
Tom Wadson
Wadson's Farm, Bermuda.
PO Box 85
Hughesville,
PA 17737
[email protected] | www.apppa.org | (888) 662-7772
The APPPA Grit newsletter is published six times a year.
The American Pastured Poultry Producers Association
(APPPA) is a nonprofit educational and networking
organization dedicated to encouraging the production,
processing, and marketing of poultry raised on pasture.
Staff
Mike Badger, Director/Grit Editor
Board of Directors
Tom Wadson, President, 2009-2014
Vice President, David Schafer, 2013-2015
Greg Gunthorp, Treasurer, 2009-2014
Jennie Watkins, Secretary, 2009-2014
Will Harris, 2013-2015
Jeff Mattocks, 2013-2015
Brenda Ostrom, 2009-2014
Val Vetter and Deb Aaron, 2010-2014
Grady Phelan, 2014-2015
Joel Salatin, board member at-large
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 3
Like most of you, I spend a lot of time thinking about
chickens and poultry at large, and day in and day out,
I find myself focusing on the production details.
Lately, however, I’ve been thinking more about
pastured poultry literacy.
We all know what literacy is in terms of being able to
read and write. My son Cameron is just learning to
read and he’s sounding out letters and trying to put
words together. His vocabulary is quite large, but
he’s not literate. And he won’t become literate
anytime soon.
The comprehension associated with reading and
writing develops over a lifetime. The more practiced
Cameron becomes with reading and writing, the
more literate he becomes. The more he questions
what he reads, and the more he seeks to understand
the “why” behind what he reads, the more literate he
becomes.
Literate people can identify problems and create
solutions. Illiterate people just eat what they are fed.
I think about APPPA’s mission in terms of pastured
poultry literacy. I don’t want to focus on what makes
you literate or illiterate, but I did want to explore the
ways that APPPA helps its members become more
literate members of the pastured poultry community.
The APPPA Grit is the cornerstone of your lifelong
pastured poultry library. Over the course of your
lifetime, you’ll find practical tips and philosophical
views that can be applied to your business. It covers
a broad range of topics across all skill levels.
The newsletter may provide insight into a problem
you’ve experienced, provide motivation for a future
change, or explain a topic in more detail. However, it
doesn’t always address a need you have right now.
That brings us to the number one mistake young
producers make with regard to their APPPA
membership. The abbreviated scenario goes like this.
A new producer signs up for an APPPA membership
and receives the newsletter for the first one or two
years. During that time, the producer has success
and things appear to go well. By the end of that
second year, the producer thinks they’ve outgrown
the knowledge presented in the Grit, so they don’t
renew. A surprising number of these people come
back with problems in a couple of years. So why
leave?
The less hopeful scenario to producers who expire
their membership is embodied in this response, “I
can’t afford an APPPA membership.” Depending on
the day, I see this either as my failure or as a natural
filter for people who aren’t really serious about raising
poultry on pasture to begin with and have no
intentions in investing in their literacy or developing a
literate community. If a $30 or $60 membership is the
break point on your success, your pastured poultry
business will follow your APPPA membership into the
compost pile.
Don’t misunderstand, I appreciate failure. Failure is
how we learn what we shouldn’t do, so that we can
have success on the next try. But you should take
ownership of your failures.
I would venture a guess that approximately two-thirds
of the questions asked on the APPPAPlus list (for
Producer Plus members) can be answered, in part,
by previous writings in the APPPA Grit.
The APPPAPlus discussion list (for Producer Plus
members), is really the best membership value you’ll
find anywhere, even for lurkers. The discussion on
this list personifies your membership and enables
near real-time communication and troubleshooting
among your peers. It’s the short-term solution to
finding specific knowledge to a problem you’re having
now.
Put another way, the APPPA Grit can be seen as a
longer term investment in your learning while the
APPPAPlus list is more like insurance for your daily
production.
Regards, Mike Badger
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 4
Daniel noted that reading intern applications is like
“reading the same chapter of a novel over and over
again. Keep your application short and to the point.”
Polyface includes questions such as, “Why do you
want to come to Polyface Farm?” They want to make
sure the intern’s interest fits what they have to offer.
Due to the number of applicants, Polyface has a bit
more intense selection process than you or I might.
Next in their process, 40-50 applicants are selected
for a two-day checkout on the farm. This allows the
Salatins to assess teachable attitude and team fit, as
well as provides for one-on-one time with each intern.
It also allows the interns the opportunity to see what
being on the farm long-term will be like. On a smaller
scale, this step could be accomplished through an
interview if a two-day on-farm experience isn’t an
option.
After the two-day checkout period, the Salatin family
sits down and chooses their top 10 individuals to
accept into the internship program, as well as two
alternatives. Each Salatin weighs in and they see
who they all agree upon. After common candidates
are identified, other candidates are selected by
looking at team dynamics to see how the team would
work together. Acceptance letters are sent and
Polyface waits to see who will accept or back out.
At some point, you need to consider your list of
compensation for your interns. Daniel noted that
housing and food are two of the big costs of interns.
At Polyface, they have an on-farm chef for evening
meals, and all interns and the Salatin family eat
together.
Total compensation as a Polyface intern includes
food, housing, and $100/month stipend. “Education
is expensive,” says Daniel, and what they are
providing is the type of education that one cannot
gain through study alone.
Daniel noted that housing is critical, but was
emphatic when he said with a smile, “But not my
house!” He went on to talk about the fishbowl
(Continued from page 1) mentality and the importance of having your own
space. “Are you ready to live in a glass house?
Because everything you do will be questioned and
studied.”
Temporary housing for interns was a challenge for
Polyface to meet legal requirements. What did they do
to overcome the challenge? Daniel encouraged, “Be
creative. As soon as you become more creative than
the law, you can beat it.” After going to their zoning
board and asking what options they had in their area
for exemptions on temporary housing, Polyface settled
on a hunting camp for their interns. What are they
hunting for? The truth, according to Daniel.
As far as a timeframe for the internship, Daniel feels
that four months is critical for best business practices,
stating, “You lose money in the first two months and
gain money in the last two months.”
You might find yourself asking, “How do I find people
that want to work with me?” Daniel encouraged, “Start
with your customers, start with your friends; chances
are, you have people within your circle of influence that
are interested in working with you.” Use social media,
Facebook, websites, whatever you have access to.
“There is someone out there who loves to do what you
hate, and when you try to do something you don’t like,
you are robbing someone else of the opportunity to do
something they love.”
Although Daniel talked about the challenges of
bringing diverse individuals together to live in close
proximity, he rounded out his comments on an
inspirational note. “What a rewarding way to live your
life, to have people involved in your life who think what
you are doing is cool. The things that you do every
day and have become mundane to you, they’re excited
about and it makes you excited, too. Super cool.”
Farm Interns: A Polyface Point of View, Interns &
Apprentice Perspectives
After Daniel provided us with his wealth of information,
he introduced several interns and apprentices who
shared what inspired them to apply for a Polyface
education.
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 5
“What I was doing wasn’t a net benefit to me, the
environment, or society.” - PF Intern, Greer
“Everyday, we have to try to be thankful for the things
we have in our lives because we take so much for
granted. If you don’t like hard work, then don’t do it,
because farming can be emotionally, physically, and
spiritually draining – most of the time all at the same
time.” - PF Intern, Tim
“I’ve heard you don’t know what you do or do not know
until you teach someone else, and that has been so
true during my apprenticeship!” - PF Intern, Hannah
Resources
Thinking that inviting interns to your farm might be
something you would want to consider? Check out the
resources below to help you get started.
Eager Farmer, eagerfarmer.com – Our mission is to
establish connections, kick-start partnerships, and
encourage healthy agricultural landscapes that span
generations. Eager Farmer is an online connection
for experienced farmers, educated farm managers,
established land owners and eager wannabe
farmers. Browse the site for the best fit for you or if
you don’t see what you need, place your own ad for
the perfect partnership.
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms,
wwoof.net – WWOOF organizations link people who
want to volunteer on organic farms or smallholdings
with people who are looking for volunteer help.
Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable
Agriculture, pasafarming.org – The Classified Ads
on the PASA web site offer both in-state and out-of-
state opportunities.
Christie Badger is co-owner of Badger’s Millside Farm in
north central Pennsylvania where she raises pastured
broilers and operates a mobile processing unit
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American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 6
You can't build a well-balanced, well-designed soy-
free poultry (or swine) recipe with local protein and
grain inputs. The inputs required to meet all of the
nutritional needs of the animal are not available on a
local basis to 99% of producers. A nutritionally
balanced soy-free diet would have a minimum of
three different sources of protein, with four or more
being best.
Geographic Limitations
Each region of the country manufactures limited
amounts of protein sources. The Pacific Northwest
has the advantage, as they have access to linseed
meal, camelina meal, fish meal, crab meal, field
peas, lentils, and more in a close proximity.
The Southeast and South Central regions are limited
to peanut meal, cottonseed meal, and solvent-
extracted soybean meal.
The Northeast truly doesn't offer any soy-free
alternatives. The regional growers don't grow peas,
flax, camelina, or any of the others. In reality, the
Northeast imports all soy-free feed ingredients.
The North Central region, or Plain States, has access
to linseed meal, field peas, and small amounts of
camelina meal, but fish meal and crab meal would
need to come from over 1,000 miles away from a
coastal state.
The Southwest doesn't grow anything in terms of
protein sources. Some spotty amounts of peas are
available, but they usually import even soybean meal
into the region.
Canada produces much of the field peas, linseed
meal, and flax meal used in poultry feeds today.
Ingredient Limitations
With all of these ingredients, there are limitations.
Camelina Meal: Thanks to the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), camelina meal is limited to
10% of the ration; however, I heard an unconfirmed
rumor that the FDA is now allowing up to 15% of the
diet to be camelina meal. Camelina meal is my
favorite soy substitute because it has 36-38% protein
and 1500 Kcal of energy (identical to that of a
roasted soybean). Currently, camelina meal is only
really available in Montana, Washington, and some in
Oregon.
Cottonseed and Cottonseed Meal is NOT suitable
for any type of nutrition because of a naturally
occurring chemical called gossypol. Chickens that
have been exposed to high amounts of gossypol will
have discolored eggs, labored breathing, pulmonary
issues, and swollen livers.
Do not ask me to use cottonseed/cottonseed meal in
a formulation!
Crab Meal: Protein can vary anywhere from 25-50%
depending on the crab processor, type of crab, and
the geographic location. Crab does not have a high
fat content and therefore does not have any off-
flavoring issues. Its use is only limited by the salt
content of the meal, which is typically up to 3%. The
use of crab meal in poultry diets should be limited to
10% due to the salt content, as anything above that
will lead to kidney problems.
Field Peas are high in tannins and are lysine
deficient. Young poultry should be limited to 15% of
the diet. Developing poultry should not exceed 20%
of the diet while mature poultry should be limited to
30% of the diet.
Fish Meal has to come from a coastal state. It can
vary anywhere from 55-74% protein, based on the
type of fish and the quality.
The 55% protein fish comes from farm-raised, GMO-
fed, antibiotic treated catfish. Catfish meal has a very
poor amino acid profile and has a very poor quality
protein for poultry.
Want a Soy-Free Feed? Forget About Local —Jeff Mattocks and Casey Rogers
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 7
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 8
15% of the diet, and mature poultry should be limited
to 20% of the diet.
Peanut Meal poses several complications. First,
peanut meal is prone to alfatoxins which are a known
carcinogen. Very low levels (20 ppb) are enough to
cause severe growth retardation, health issues, and
death. Peanut meal is also lysine deficient so it will
therefore require the added supplementation of
lysine, which generally comes from synthetic
sources. It is also only available in the south, and is
generally solvent-extracted, which means that it
would come with a hexane residue.
Summary
Unless you live in the Pacific Northwest, adequate
alternative protein sources will not be in your local
area. Soy-free feeds are always more expensive to
manufacture than soy-based feeds. Typically, soy-
free feeds are on average 25-30% more expensive
than the standard corn and soy-based feeds. So, if
you are looking for a good soy-free feed for your
livestock, consider the fact that your feed ingredients
will be traveling some extreme distances to get there.
And sometimes the consequence of miles traveled is
worse than being fed some soy.
Most fish meals on the market for use in poultry feed
are made from Menhaden or Sardines. These will
have 60-63% protein content and a 7% fat content.
The fat is the reason that the use of fish meal is
limited in poultry feed. Too much of it leads to off-
flavoring of both meat and eggs.
Good fishmeal should be limited to 7.5% in starter
feeds, 5% in developing feeds, and 2.5% in finishing
and laying feeds.
Linseed/Flax Meal: Linseed meal is flax that has had
its oil reduced or removed. It also reduces overall
palatability of the feed for the chickens, which
reduces feed intake and therefore growth and
performance of the chickens. Finally, linseed and flax
meal can cause egg and meat taint, often giving the
products a fishy or a paint-like smell. Limit young
poultry to 10% of the diet. Limit developing poultry to
(Continued from page 6)
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 9
As a contract poultry processor, I spend much time
educating people about poop. If someone gives me
birds to process that have not been taken off feed,
they will hear about it for the entire time I’m working
with them. I will show them the poop that tends to
leak out all over their poultry carcass—the carcass
they’re going to eat.
For most of us reading this article, removing feed is
just something we do because APPPA members are
highly informed and attentive to the details. As we’ll
explore, a well-thought out feed withdrawal program
affects cleanliness, pathogens, and yield.
Optimum Withdrawal Time
Before we address the effects of feed withdrawal,
let’s look at the optimum withdrawal time. Generally
speaking, a withdrawal time between eight and
twelve hours is considered optimum. At least, that is
the time frame you see cited most often.
Some of you are likely thinking that the last time you
tried eight or ten hours for a withdrawal time, you still
had food somewhere in the gastrointestinal tract.
This is particularly annoying when you exert a bit of
pressure on the abdominal cavity prior to making the
opening evisceration cut and feces oozes out of the
vent. For this reason, I recommend higher withdrawal
times. I always recommend a minimum of 12 hours,
but the time required for the bird to empty out the
digestive tract is variable.
The Purdue Extension publication “Optimizing Feed
Withdrawal Programs” lists several environmental
factors that could affect the time it takes feed to pass
through the digestive tract:
Birds in crates pass feed at a slower rate than
uncrated birds;
Light improves the digestion of feed in crated
and uncrated birds;
Broilers with access to continuous feed digest
feed faster than “meal-fed” broilers.
The implication of these factors shows us that even
feed withdrawal is situational, and if you’re having
problems cleaning those birds out prior to pro-
cessing, the preceding list is a good place to start
troubleshooting.
When I remove my birds from feed, I typically pull the
feeders late afternoon/early evening on the day prior
to processing. I’ve found that allowing the birds about
three hours of daylight after I pull feed produces good
(Continued on page 10)
Optimizing Feed Withdrawal for Cleanliness, Pathogens, and Profits —Mike Badger
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 10
results. The birds remain in the shelter on pasture
until they are crated early in the morning. This proce-
dure illustrates the first two points: uncrated birds and
light facilitates the passing of feed.
I used to tell the farmers I work with to remove feed
prior to processing. However, I discovered that there
are a surprising number of people who interpret
“remove feed” with just don’t refill the feeders in the
morning. And those results are disappointing.
Feed typically lasts longer in the bottom of a feeder
than most people realize. And those birds that won’t
eat the fines the other 55 days of their lives will lick
that feeder clean when you’re trying to fast them.
They’ll get every last particle of feed that you didn’t
remove, and as a result, the birds will be full of feed
and feces at processing.
Now, I always direct farmers to pull the feeders. I rec-
ommend the same for you.
Feed Withdrawal and Pathogens
Feces is a concern with pathogen contamination,
such as salmonella. When the digestive tracts of the
birds are empty, there is less feces to deal with in the
crates, in the kill cones, in the scald water, and at the
evisceration station.
It should make sense, with a bit of reflection at least,
that a full intestinal tract is larger than an empty one.
An empty intestinal tract is less likely to be ruptured
during processing, and therefore, less likely to cross-
contaminate the carcass with feces and other diges-
tive material.
There is a risk to an empty intestinal tract. According
to “Optimizing Feed Withdrawal,” the small intestine
becomes weaker and more prone to breakage after
the birds have been off feed for more than 14 hours.
A broken intestine may contaminate the carcass, ta-
ble, or knife with pathogen laden feces.
As the withdrawal time increases beyond 14 hours,
changes in the intestine favor the growth of salmonel-
(Continued from page 9) la, compounding the risk of contamination from
breakage.
Carcass Yield Decreases with Feed Withdrawal
“Optimizing Feed Withdrawal” reports that for every
hour a broiler is off feed, the live weight decreases by
as much as 0.3%. In a 24 hour feed withdrawal sce-
nario, which some pastured poultry producers advo-
cate, the carcass will lose up to 7.7% of its starting
weight. That turns a six pound broiler into a five and
a half pound broiler. If you assume a 70% dressing
percentage, the carcass loses up to 0.35 pounds of
salable meat over the course of 24 hours.
The financial ramification of .35 pounds means more
as the size of the flock scales up. At 1,000 birds, the
producer loses $1,460 assuming an industry average
price of $4.17/lb. At 15,000 birds, the loss becomes
$21,892.
Actual results may vary, of course. And we have to
accept the fact that the birds need to be fasted for at
least some length of time to address the cleanliness
and fecal contamination concerns during processing.
But the numbers suggest that the longer you withhold
feed, the more money you lose.
The take away point is that if you’re fasting your birds
for 24 hours, then you might be able to pad the bot-
tom line while reducing the risk of pathogen contami-
nation just by tweaking the feed withdrawal program
by adjusting the environmental factors outlined in the
Optimal Withdrawal time section. Using the sample
numbers for a 15,000 bird flock, shaving 12 hours off
the feed withdrawal time could put $10,946 back into
your pocket for an average bird that weighs six
pounds at the start of feed withdrawal.
For a well researched look, including many studies, check
out the Purdue Extension publication, Optimizing Feed
Withdrawal Programs by Kristi L. Thompson et al. https://
www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/AS/AS_576_W.pdf or
888-EXT-INFO.
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 11
Lack of grit can result in as much as 20% greater
feed consumption. Poultry which are fed grit have
gizzards which are as much as 50% larger than
those not fed grit. This results in a more powerful
masticating muscle and, consequently, better diges-
tion.
Grit requirements vary depending on poultry species,
soil type, feed type/grain size, and forage type/
quantity/size.
Cost
Gran-i-Grit currently costs $78.50/ton ($0.04/lb. or
$1.96/50 lb. bag). Prices are rounded for clarity and
are based upon current Gran-i-Grit direct sales pric-
es.
Layers
Each will consume 1/6-1/3 lbs. of grit per month (2 to
4 lbs./yr.). Highest consumption is in early winter and
when new feathers are being formed. Lowest con-
sumption is in spring and summer.
Budget one to two tons of grit per year for a flock of
1,000 Layers (between $78.50 and $157 for each
1,000 Layers/yr.).
On average, grit results in 7% to 9.6% greater egg
production coupled with a 6.3% to 7.1% decrease in
feed consumption. The highest percentage improve-
ments are made by feeding both insoluble grit
(granite) and soluble grit (oyster shells or limestone).
For the purposes of this document, “grit” refers to
“insoluble granite grit.”
Grit intake also results in thicker egg shells and an
overall increase in flock health.
Soluble grit consumption varies depending on egg
production. Higher lay rate equals more soluble grit
consumed. Consumption averages 0.64 oz./layer/
week or 2.08 lbs./layer/yr.
Broilers
Each will consume up to 1/20th their diet in grit.
Therefore, a bird eating 12 to 14 lbs. of feed over the
course of its life will eat up to 0.6 to 0.7 lbs. of grit.
Budget as much as 60 to 70 lbs. of grit for every 100
Broilers ($2.36 to $2.75/100 Broilers).
Grit intake results in better feed conversion/weight
gain of up to an additional one pound per broiler and
an overall increase in flock health.
Turkeys
Turkeys can consume the equivalent of 1/5th their
diet in grit. Therefore, a bird which eats 60 lbs. of
(Continued on page 12)
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Comprehensive Guide to Feeding Grit for Layers, Broilers, Turkeys, and Waterfowl —Nathan Boggs
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 12
feed in its lifetime will likely consume approximately
12 lbs. of grit if given the opportunity. Over the
course of their life, they may even consume the
equivalent of their carcass weight in grit.
Budget 12 to 16 lbs. of grit per turkey for a flock pro-
jected to average 16 lbs. dressed weight ($0.47 to
$0.63/turkey).
Grit intake results in better feed conversion/weight
gain and an overall increase in flock health.
Grit Feeding Guide
Feed the largest size grit which your birds will eat in
normal quantities. If a flock eats too much grit,
change to the next larger particle size.
Feed grit free choice. Poultry will only eat as much
grit as they need. Offer grit either by itself or mixed
with feed or whole grains such as wheat
(recommended grit:wheat ratio or 1:4).
Generally, if mixing grit into feed rations, add at a
rate of .5% to .75% of total ration.
Grit Feeding Schedule
Chicks and poults can mistake grit for feed with dam-
aging results. Help them establish correct feeding
habits by sprinkling grit over their feed for the first two
days. After that, offer grit free choice in separate hop-
pers. Alternatively, avoid all grit on days for the first
two days and begin feeding it on day three.
Layers:
Starter: Weeks 1-3
Grower: Weeks 4-7
Developer-Layer: >Week 7
Grit/Wheat Supplement: Only offer when the
available forage is excellent. This Supplement
works best for hens when there are alternative
protein sources available (e.g., insects, small
rodents, and small reptiles). Otherwise, the
hens may ignore their feed in favor of the sup-
plement and not get enough quality protein for
optimal egg production.
(Continued from page 11)
Broilers:
Starter: Weeks 1-2
Grower: Weeks 3-6
Developer/Layer: >Week 6
Grit/Wheat Supplement: >Week 5
Turkeys:
Grower: Weeks 1-3
Developer-Layer: Weeks 4-8
Turkey: Weeks 9-14
Turkey Finisher: >Week 15
Grit/Wheat Supplement: >Week 8
Waterfowl:
Grower: Weeks 1-3
Developer-Layer: Weeks 4-8
Turkey: Weeks 9-14
Turkey Finisher: >Week 15
Grit/Wheat Supplement: >Week 5
Additional reading and references
Feeding Pasture-Raised Poultry by Jeff Mattocks (p. 21-23)
Gran-i-Grit Brochure: www.ncgranite.com/images/
gritmailer.pdf
“Granite Poultry Grit” by Paul Wood: http://
quarriesandbeyond.org
“Experiment Station Record: Volume 34” by the U.S. Office
of Experiment Stations and the U.S. Agricultural Research
Service (p. 176)
Fili-West Farms is a grass based farm in South Carolina
specializing in the growing and housing of Pasture-Raised
Poultry in hot Southern climates.
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 13
On July 19, 2014, the Salatin family hosted nearly
2,000 people at Polyface Farm where I had a chance
to take Joel’s tour. This article provides a recap of
some of the bits that struck me most regarding
business, broilers, hens, and turkeys.
The Portable Farm
A recurring theme on the tour was the idea of a
portable farm. Though this is not the first time I heard
Joel talk about this topic, it had a lot more meaning
while looking at all the portable structures. Structures
ranged from portable broiler pens (we all know
those), egg mobiles, turkey roosts, and cattle shade
stations.
To help the group grasp the importance of the
concept, Joel asked us to consider that a new Tyson
(or pick your big chicken of choice) house will cost
hundreds of thousands of dollars before one single
chicken is raised. And it’s definitely not portable. With a
CAFO, if you move to a new farm, you build a new
building.
The pastured poultry approach can be launched with
scrap lumber and portable shelters. The equity, Joel
says, is management and information as opposed to
buildings or land.
Then Joel asked us to consider that beef cattle in the
Shenandoah Valley of Virginia typically returned $100-
$150 per acre. A stacked enterprise with
complementary activities, made possible in-part by
portable structures, can return up to $8,000 per acre.
A Change in Turkey Production
A Quick Hitting Tour of Polyface Poultry Production PORTABLE FARMS, BROILER, LAYER, AND TURKEY PRODUCTION —Mike Badger
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 14
Most turkey producers are familiar with the way Joel
used to raise turkeys, which basically broods the
turkey poults with the baby chicks. The theory being
that the meat chicks help show the turkey poults the
ropes—how to eat and drink, for example.
On the Polyface Farm tour, Joel said he’s had
continual high losses in turkey production until he
had a breakthrough moment in the 2014 season (still
in-progress at the time of the tour).
In 2014, he brooded turkeys by themselves after
doing a thorough cleaning of the brooder. The
cleaning included removing the old bedding and then
power washing the brooder. Then fresh bedding was
added back. This approach drastically reduced the
turkey mortality. It’s a complete reversal to the
method of brooding chicks and turkey poults
together.
At three weeks of age, the turkeys are moved to
pasture in daily move broiler pens. Then at seven
weeks, the turkeys are introduced to turkey netting.
Joel found that earlier than seven weeks, and the
turkeys pass through the netting. If you wait longer
than seven weeks, the turkeys are too big and they
just walk through and over the fence. At seven
weeks, they learn to respect the fence. When the
turkeys move out to the electric fence, they are only
provided shade and roosts. They are capable of
weathering the elements.
In other interesting turkey tidbits, Joel said turkeys
can eat up to 45% of their diet in grass. You need to
give them more pasture, more often. I hesitate to
promote such a number because I don’t want people
reading this to starve their turkeys in the hopes of
reducing purchased feed inputs. As always, the
quality of the management and the pasture will affect
how much they forage. Give them all the balanced
ration they need, and allow them to self-select
between forage and provided feed.
Chore Time Using a Salatin Pen
Standing among a field of broilers, Joel provides
some simple numbers with regard to managing the
(Continued from page 13)
Egg mobile in an extensive grazing model where the hens range freely on the pasture.
A-frame hen house in an intensive grazing model with the feed wagon in the front. This whole structure is moved by pulling the wagon.
Some young turkeys in the Gobbledygo turkey roost and shade structure. The rafters and perches are notched for easy removal, making transport down the road possible.
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 15
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Poultry Nutri-Balancer and the complete line of
Fertrell Products.
Also Available :
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Fertrell
shelters bearing his name (10’x12’ Salatin-style pen).
Each pen can be moved in a minute. That means 60
pens containing approximately 5,000 broilers can be
moved in 1 hour. (See issue 84 for Joel’s official
recommendations for time to move, feed, and water).
This is a direct counter to the criticism that the Salatin
-style shelter doesn’t scale up or that it’s too labor
intensive as you ramp up production. But the
Polyface system is efficient. The broiler shelter, in
this case, is just one component of the entire system.
All the water and feed is right where it needs to be for
chore time—next to the chickens. The water reservoir
is re-filled from a gravity-fed pond.
Joel contends that the daily move pens are the most
efficient system to raise broilers at Polyface despite
evaluating day range models.
Choosing a Range Model for Layers
The tour at Polyface featured two pasture production
models for laying hens. There were different housing
and roost designs, but the primary difference has to
do with fences.
The intensive model uses portable, electric netting to
rotate the hens through the pasture. It’s the primary
method if you are focused on pastured egg
production, according to Joel. The fence protects the
flock from ground predators.
The extensive model lets the hens range at will.
There is no fence. This model works well if pasture
sanitation is your goal by following cattle, for
example. On the downside, the hens sometimes just
wander off never to return.
This model doesn’t really work well on less than 50
acres. The hens will want to return to the previous
egg mobile location to roost if the egg mobile doesn’t
move far enough. And if the hens are close enough
to non-pasture areas, they will range freely into
buildings and yards.
A visit to Polyface is a must for pastured poultry producers.
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 16
As 2014 winds down, the APPPA board of directors
will retire five members due to term limits (Tom
Wadson, Jennie Watkins, Greg Gunthorp, Val Vetter/
Deb Aaron, and Brenda Ostrom). The existing board
of directors has opted to recommend all five
replacement board members in an uncontested
election. The recommended board members and
their bios are presented for review.
The Board is confident that the chosen candidates
will do a good job of leading APPPA into the future.
We hope you agree; however, we welcome new
recommendations for board candidates. Enclosed on
page 23 is a form which you may use to suggest a
candidate of your choosing. (Please confirm with that
person that they would like to run.)
If we don‘t receive qualifying nominations by October
31, 2014, we will call the election and declare the
2015 Board Elections
candidates presented in this issue as the newly
elected board members of APPPA.
If you agree with the slate of candidates as presented,
you don‘t have to do anything and your support is
assumed.
If we get 3 nominations from the general membership
for the same candidate, we will reopen the election
and publish mail-in ballots for the contested election in
the next issue of APPPA Grit.
Terrell Spencer, Across the Creek Farm, Arkansas
Terrell “Spence” Spencer owns and operates Across
the Creek Farm, located just south of Fayetteville,
Arkansas in the Boston Mountains of Northwest
Arkansas. Together with his wife, Carla, and their
three kids, Spence and family raise pasture-raised,
Non-GMO broilers and layers. The farm will raise
around 10,000 broilers this year, selling directly to
consumers, retailers and restaurants, and has entered
into national sales through a distributor. The farm has
seen steady growth since its founding in 2007.
Spence worked for three years as the poultry
specialist at ATTRA, and has designed and led
pastured poultry workshops in nearly a dozen states.
Professionally, he has co-authored several academic
research articles on poultry, written for conventional
and organic trade industries, acted as a technical
poultry advisor for an organic certifier, updated the
current SARE pastured poultry bulletin, and published
several ATTRA publications, among other activities.
Spence is an active member of the military veteran
community, having trained and interned dozens of
farming veterans from across the country. Spence is
currently advising the construction of poultry
infrastructure in Ethiopia, and is actively pursuing the
introduction of insurance for pastured poultry
producers in the 2016 farm bill. Spence’s passion is
for pastured poultry producers who seek to make a full
-time living off of their poultry businesses.
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 17
Craig Haney, Stone Barns, New York
Craig Haney grew up in the foothills of New York's
Catskill Mountains where his family has farmed for
eight generations. After earning an honors degree in
American History at The University of Michigan, he
taught about early American agriculture at The
Farmers' Museum for ten years. He went on to found
Skate Creek Farm, where he developed hands-on
expertise in modern grass-based organic livestock
production of poultry, pastured veal, sheep and
swine. While at Skate Creek, Craig also served as
coordinator for a group of farmers under the Meadow
Raised Cooperative. In 2004, upon its opening,
Craig established the livestock program at Stone
Barns, and has run the livestock operation since,
including overseeing the processing facility.
Throughout his career, Craig has combined livestock
expertise with a love of teaching, bringing an
advanced understanding of food systems to
professionals and the public alike. His diverse
experiences teaching farmers include running various
livestock programs at the Farmers’ Museum
(including the annual Junior Livestock Show); farmer
education programs at the Stone Barns Center (on
swine, sheep, poultry, and zoonotic diseases, as well
as a program for new American farmers to establish
livestock operations); and presentations to other
agricultural professionals at meetings of the
American Grassfed Association (rotational grazing
and pasture management), Cornell University (swine
school, poultry primer and sheep worming), Green
Thumbs and Just Food’s urban farming certificate
program (urban poultry husbandry), Animal Welfare
Institute (swine school), Shelburne Farms, and the
Northeast Organic Farming Association, Eco Farm,
PASA, Carolina Meat Conference, New England
Meat Conference, and the Texas Foodways
Symposium, among others.
Susan Beal, PASA, Pennsylvania
Susan Beal, DVM, is currently the Agricultural
Science Advisor for PASA (The Pennsylvania
Association for Sustainable Agriculture).
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 18
Dr. Beal comes from a long background of holistic
veterinary practice, ranging from mixed practice
through emergency medicine, equine, and
companion animal practices. Before joining the team
at PASA, Dr. Beal was employed at a non-speciated
veterinary practice dedicated to providing holistic
care for animals and the environment.
She also provided educational programs, consulting
and coaching for her clients, as well as farmers,
producers and consumer groups. Susan is
particularly interested in whole farm/whole system
pasture based ecology, and offers common sense
advice and counsel with the goal of health from the
ground up – thriving individuals and ecosystems.
Susan graduated from the Ontario Agricultural
College at the University of Guelph in 1982 with a
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in
Applied Bacteriology, and areas of emphasis in
(Industry News continued from page 17) Literature and Extension Education. She graduated
from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of
Guelph, in 1987 with a degree in Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Beal has studied acupuncture through the
International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS),
and Animal Chiropractic through the American
Veterinarians and Chiropractors Association (AVCA).
She has studied Craniosacral Therapy through the
Upledger Institute and has served as a teaching
assistant for Craniosacral Therapy courses offer by
the Institute.
Her homeopathic studies include completion of Dr.
Richard Pitcairn's Professional and Advanced
Courses in Veterinary Homeopathy, the Masters in
Human Homeopathy at the Hudson Valley School of
Classical Homeopathy, as well as studying with other
homeopaths both here and abroad. Dr. Beal studies,
writes and teaches, and, for over two decades has
been involved with actively mentoring veterinarians
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 19
supports profitable, environmentally conscious, and
socially responsible Arkansas livestock farmers.
David Hale, Windy Meadows Farm, Texas
David is relatively new to APPPA, but has been
raising chickens for 15 years and full time for 6 years
on the family farm in Campbell, TX. They raised
50,000 chickens last year and are planning for
80,000 this year. Windy Meadows Farm has a USDA
inspected processing plant on farm. The operation
has several full-time employees.
After 15 years, David is still learning and has learned
quite a bit in his first year as an APPPA member.
After 15 years in pastured poultry, he has some
insights to share.
If you agree with Spence, Craig, Susan, Cody, and
David, do nothing, and they will be assume their
board responsibilities in March 2015. Want to
nominate somebody else, use the form on page 23 to
submit your nomination.
who are studying homeopathy and non-conventional
medicine.
Susan lives in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania - on
land recaptured from the wilds - where she raises a
small group of Jacob sheep and a small herd of Devon
cattle. In addition to her work with PASA, she serves
on the Board of the Pennsylvania Forage and Grazing
Lands Conservation Coalition and is Past President of
the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.
She in involved with providing training in Holistic
Management, a whole farm/business planning process
that considers the triple bottom line of relevant
economic, environmental and social considerations
simultaneously. Farms and ranches that practice
Holistic Management are experiencing up to a 300%
increase in profit while building their biological assets
and improving quality of life.
Cody Hopkins, Falling Sky Farm, Arkansas
Cody Hopkins began farming in 2007 after graduating
from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas with a
physics degree, teaching in Rhode Island, and
managing a bakery. In 2007, he co-founded Falling
Sky Farm, a diversified livestock farm 100 miles North
of Little Rock and 140 miles South of Springfield,
Missouri, in the heart of the Arkansas Ozark
Mountains. This Ozark farm rotationally grazes
forested hogs, grass-finished beef cattle, and pastured
poultry. In 2014, Falling Sky Farm is on track to raise
and direct market 12,000 broiler chickens, 400
turkeys, 225 hogs and 45 grass-fed beeves.
In 2007, Cody was awarded a Wild Gift Fellowship that
supports the efforts of visionary entrepreneurs with the
tools needed to turn their visions into action and create
a better, more sustainable world. In 2012, Cody was
selected as a Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneur by the
Hitatich Foundation, which is a nationwide competitive
program that identifies and supports inspiring young
entrepreneurs whose work helps to alleviate domestic
poverty. In January 2013, Cody was featured in
Forbes Magazine’s Up and Comers section. Cody has
recently stepped into the managing director role for the
Arkansas Sustainable Livestock Cooperative, a newly-
-formed processing and marketing cooperative that
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 20
Producer Marketplace To place an ad, email [email protected] or call 888-
662-7772.
Intern Opportunity for APPPA
Join the world voice for pastured poultry. As an
intern, you’ll have the chance to learn the ins and
outs of a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade organization. In
addition, the intern will get a front seat perspective at
pastured poultry production from all corners of the
United States and beyond.
Areas of focus include member services, recruitment,
and retention. The intern position will contribute
significantly to the organization’s marketing efforts,
including Facebook and email marketing. An interest
in raising pastured poultry and a desire to help
producers succeed are a must.
This is a work from home position, and the
successful candidate will be competent with
electronic communication mediums. However, hours,
compensation, and expectations will be tailored to
the person and their experience. There may be
opportunities to attend conferences and workshops.
The position will remain open until we find a
candidate. Apply by sending a resume and a writing
sample to Mike Badger at [email protected] or mail to
PO Box 85, Hughesville, PA 17737.
USDA Processing Plant For Sale
Tennessee’s only USDA poultry processing plant for
independent farmers is for sale. Business is
booming! Includes: 1,250 sf building with equipment,
supplies, staff, customers, HACCP, and training. The
business sits on 5 cross-fenced acres with a 3/2
home, barn and pond. Call for details – Steve
Malamatos at 931-239-9633 or [email protected].
www.nikoandcompany.com.
News
Clarification to Roasted Soybean Article
In APPPA Grit Issue 81, the article “Roasted
Soybean Advantage” by Jeff Mattocks was edited in
such a way that it may have been confusing.
The article, as published, omitted a heading and a
sentence. A quick read of the article as published
may incorrectly conclude that roasted soybeans are
associated with hexane extraction. At the bottom of
page one, the following text should introduce the last
paragraph on the page:
Hexane Extraction of Soybean Meal
Soybean meal, 48% has its fat removed through a
chemical process of solvent extraction.
The archived version of the newsletter has been
updated in the Producer Plus archives.
APPPA $500 Grant Still Available
Deadline to apply is October 15, 2014. Contact
APPPA or visit http://www.apppa.org/blog/24228 for
more information.
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 21
The National Agricultural Research Institute,
Livestock Farm in Guayana conducted a duck raising
experiment that compared the Pekin, Muscovy, and
Kunshan (Mallard) ducks. Even though the popular
meat duck choice in the United States is typically
between Pekin and Muscovy, I’ll include the Kunshan
data for comparison. The experiment consisted of 50
ducks of each breed evenly divided between males
and females.
Unfortunately, the Guayana experiment raised the
ducks in an intensive management situation inside
with approximately 3.3 square feet of floor space
through the grow out period. At eight weeks, 20% of
each breed was slaughtered to derive the values
seen in table 1.
(Continued on page 22)
If, as producers, we’re ready to take the duck
challenge, one of the first choices to make is breed
selection and knowing something about the
production characteristics of various duck breeds
helps us make informed decisions. Oft-recited
assumptions about duck production is that Pekins are
the default choice for fast growth, and Muscovies
take longer to finish. This article will challenge that
assumption.
Search though I might, I’ve found it relatively difficult
to find good information about raising ducks in terms
of feed conversion and dressed weights, especially
from a pastured perspective, so this article
summarizes a South American experiment.
Comparing Duck Production for Muscovy, Pekin, and Kunshan —Mike Badger
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 22
Table 1 shows us that the Pekin ducks have a very
similar performance characteristics between the
sexes. Muscovy males gain more and dress at a
higher percentage than the females. Overall, carcass
yield is better for Muscovy. To put the numbers in
context, a 5.6 pound male Pekin will produce a 4.1
pound carcass (without giblets) at 83% yield. A 5.4
pound mail Muscovy will produce a 4.1 pound
carcass (without giblets) at 86.5% yield.
The numbers reported from the Guyana experiment
correspond to the data Greg Gunthorp provided in his
PASA presentation in 2014, where he indicated that
the performance characteristics of the Pekins males
and females were similar [1]. However, males have
the slight edge, which is one reason why he raises all
males.
The experiment fed the ducks a balanced ration ad-
libitum. A 21% starter ration was used in weeks one
through three. Then in week three the ration was
gradually switched to a 16% grower ration and fed
until slaughter at eight weeks [3].
Jeff Mattocks notes that you should know whether or
not you want to raise a fryer duck (3.5 to 4.5 lb.) or a
roaster duck (6 to 8 lb.). A 4.5 pound carcass at 8
weeks is a reasonable expectation for Pekins. For a
fryer he recommends starting at a 22% protein
followed by an 18% grower. For a roaster he
recommends starting at 20% followed by an 18%
(Continued from page 21) grower and then a 16% finisher [2]. This feeding
schedule correlates to the Guyana experiment.
Beware of judging your feed based on protein level
alone. Jeff cautions that protein percentage is not the
ultimate measure of the feed. Amino acids are more
important components in a balanced ration,
specifically methionine, methionine/cysteine, and
lysine [2].
Pekins definitely enjoy the reputation as a
commercial duck of choice for fast grow out
performance. However, the Guayan experiment
indicates that Mucovies (males, at least) can perform
as well as or slightly better than Pekins in the same
amount of time.
References
[1] “Ducks with Greg Gunthorp (Disc 1).” Diversifying
poultry with turkeys, ducks and guineas: PASA
Conference 2014. February 6, 2014. DVD.
[2] “Nutrition and health needs for waterfowl, turkeys
and guineas” with Jeff Mattocks (Disc 2).
Diversifying poultry with turkeys, ducks and guineas:
PASA Conference 2014. February 6, 2014. DVD.
[3] Solomon J K Q, Austin R, Cumberbatch R N,
Gonsalves J and Seaforth E 2006: “A comparison of
live weight and carcass gain of Pekin, Kunshan and
Muscovy ducks on a commercial ration.” Livestock
Research for Rural Development. Volume 18, Article
No. 154. Retrieved September 6, 2014, from http://
www.lrrd.org/lrrd18/11/solo18154.htm
Table 1: Mean Production Values of Pekin, Muscovy, and Kunshan [3]
Pekin
Drakes
Pekin
Hens
Muscovy
Drakes
Muscovy
Hens
Kunshan
Drakes
Kunshan
Hens
Live Weight (lbs.) 5.6 5.0 5.4 3.3 5.6 4.7
Yield % w/giblets 83.0 82.4 86.5 85.7 86.3 80.8
Yield % w/o giblets 72.0 71.1 76.7 72.9 74.5 68.0
Breast yield (lbs.)* 1.3 1.1 1.2 0.7 1.0 0.9
Leg yield (lbs.)* 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.5 0.8 0.7
*The Guyana experiment reported yields as % of live weights. The yield in pounds is calculated: Mean Live Weight x
Mean Yield %. The Yield % of breasts and legs are not reported in this table, but can be found in the original study.
American Pastured Poultry Producers Association Issue # 83 23
Renew Membership (Renew at apppa.org or return this form with your
check.)
Producer Information (if different)
Name _____________________________
Farm _____________________________
Address ___________________________
City, State, Zip ______________________
Phone ____________________________
Email Address ______________________
Membership Level
Producer Plus with online benefits:
□ w/ printed newsletter—$60/yr or $105/2yrs
□ w/ electronic newsletter—$50/yr or $95/2yrs
□ Print Only Newsletter—$30/yr (REDUCED!)
Have something to advertise? Contact us about a business membership.
APPPA, PO Box 85, Hughesville, PA 17737-0085
Board Nomination Form Only use this form if you want to nominate an APPPA
board member and force a contested election with
mail-in ballots.
Nominee ______________________
Farm _________________________
City and State __________________
Phone_________________________
Email _________________________
Your Name _____________________
Cutout or photocopy this form, and then return
your nomination before October 31, 2014, to
APPPA, PO Box 85, Hughesville, PA 17737.
If the number printed above your address is #83 or earlier, renew by mailing the form
on page 23 or renew online at www.apppa.org.
APPPA PO Box 85
Hughesville, PA 17737
PRSRT STD
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