Should there be any litter in the houses?

Should there be any litter in the houses? Yes. There should always be litter for birds to scratch in, and chopped straw makes the best manure. The standards require that litter must be regularly replenished and kept in a dry and friable condition.

Are there requirements for the dimensions of the house?

Are there requirements for the dimensions of the house? Yes. The requirements are: Stocking rates: maximum six birds/sq.m Perch space: minimum 18 cm/bird Individual nest boxes: maximum six birds/nest Communal nests: minimum 120 sq.cm/bird Slatted floor area: maximum 50% Exit/entry pop-holes: minimum 4m/100m2 floor area Area of poultry houses: maximum 1,600sq.m per unit.

Can the house have a slatted floor?

Can the house have a slatted floor? Fixed houses with a solid floor can have part of the area slatted with a collection area for droppings. Slats may make up 50% of the floor area

Is artificial lighting permitted?

Is artificial lighting permitted? Artificial lighting will normally be necessary to ensure continuity of egg production. However, ‘daylight’ should not exceed 16 hours and should only extend the day in the morning. The day must end with a natural dusk. Batteries, solar powered units and small wind generators are often used for mobile houses to provide lighting and to power other services in the house.

What about brooding?

What about brooding? Chicks can be brooded within their field house or in a specialised brooding house. They should be encouraged to start ranging as early as possible.

Are there any specific requirements for the house?

Are there any specific requirements for the house? The house must provide a minimum internal stocking density for broilers and ducks of 21kg/sq.m (10 birds) in fixed housing, and 30 kg/sq.m (maximum 16 birds) in mobile housing. For turkeys and geese this equates to two birds/m2.

What about arrangements for on-farm slaughter?

What about arrangements for on-farm slaughter? Many organic producers kill and process birds on the farm. Dry plucking is recommended but wet plucking is permitted.

What if the birds are sent to a slaughterhouse?

What if the birds are sent to a slaughterhouse? If meat is to be marketed as organic, the animals must be slaughtered and butchered by operators who are registered with an organic inspection body and subject to an annual inspection process.

Can beaks be trimmed to prevent feather pecking?

Can beaks be trimmed to prevent feather pecking? Beak-trimming is prohibited under SA standards. Pullets should be ordered well in advance to ensure that birds are not beak-trimmed.

What can I use to treat external parasites?

What can I use to treat external parasites? Houses should be thoroughly disinfected between batches with iodoform, steam, blowtorch or lime, depending on the materials used for construction. Attention should be paid to house construction: a good design with washable surfaces and without hard-to-clean cracks and cavities will help to ensure a parasite-free house.

If treatment is required, there are various plant-based or physically acting products that may be effective. As a last resort, a cypermethrin product can be used with permission.

What about vaccination?

What about vaccination? Vaccines should only be used if there is a known disease risk on the farm, or neighbouring farm, which cannot be controlled by any other means

How can coccidiosis be controlled?

How can coccidiosis be controlled? Like many other poultry diseases, coccidiosis can be successfully controlled through good management, proper cleaning and disinfection of houses. Ensure litter is kept dry and clean by replacing regularly, and that a proper rotation of poultry pasture is maintained. Where these fail, it would be possible to obtain permission from your

certification body to treat with a coccidiostat, on veterinary advice, and a vaccine may be considered for the future.

What about roundworms and tape worms?

What about roundworms and tape worms? If pasture is well rested these parasites should not pose too much of a problem.

Is there a market for organic eggs?

Is there a market for organic eggs? Yes and No

Conclusion

Conclusion Though, organic meat production is in practice since 12-15 years in the world market, it is yet to mark a position. Developing countries may take about10 years to conceive the concept. Organic meat are generally more tough. In the current situation, the food animals may be ranked organic,…. Goat – Sheep – Rabbit – Pig – Broiler- Cattle