Feeding Minerals and Supplements to a Organic Pastured Poultry Operation

Feeding Minerals and Supplements to a Organic Pastured Poultry Operation

Summary

“Does feeding choices such as: colloidal clay, powdered rock minerals, a mineral supplement blend, granular humates, or combinations of these minerals and humates, contribute to better grain utilization, healthier meat and less polluting manure in an organic pasture poultry farming operation?”

For our study, we introduced different minerals and supplements of approximately 1 – 1.5% of the total daily feed volume to the diet, alongside a controlled batch of chickens. Each are fed the same organic grain and have access to the same amount of grit and same quantity and quality of water. The supplements we used were Flora stim Clay, Azomite, Fertrell Minerals, and a combination of Azomite plus Humates and a different combination of Azomite, Humates and Clay.

Our Pastured Poultry Operation.
• Raised in 10 x 12 ft Salatin-style “chicken tractors”
• Moved every morning one length ahead to fresh grass
• Feeding troughs are cut 6” PVC with handles (1 per pen)
• Buckets on top gravity fill the hanging bell waterers using well water
• 60-80 birds per pen

• Harvested between 7.5 to 8.5 weeks (52 -64 days) of age.

Tell us what you actually did on your project and what remains to be done. Describe your results and accomplishments to date.

We gathered materials, supplies and tools needed for our experiment. We set up our experiment.
We collected data. We brooded the chicks together feeding 2.04 lbs of grain to the birds in the brooder. We added azomite and humates to the feed of the brooder birds because our previous work supported the suggestion that they would lower mortality. Brooder mortality was 2% in SARE 1 and 3.4% in SARE 2.

The birds were moved to the field when they were 23 days old. We divided 560 birds into 7 chicken tractors that were labeled with flagging tape. We continued collected feed weights and did a weigh check in the fields when the birds were 6 weeks old. After that weigh check we began having predator problems. On repeated occasions we discovered that birds or pieces of birds were carried off by a fox. This completely through off our study as our feed conversion ratios were severely compromised. It took several weeks for us to catch the fox and solve our predator problems.

We began harvesting the birds at day 52 and continued through day 64, until all the birds were harvested.

Due to this situation, we decided to repeat the study in Y2 in hopes of collecting better data. We modified our experiment and repeated the study.

In our Y2 study, we modified the pens by adding weighted chicken wire to the back of our pens. We also attempted to do weekly counts to check the number of chickens in each pen. Counting the 60 birds in each pen was pretty hard and time consuming. The idea was to get the birds hungry and then place two feeders in the pen and take a picture, counting the heads. It was pretty tricky and we often counted and re-counted from week to week with slight differences in numbers of birds that we couldn’t explain.

We tried to eliminate the possible effects of pasture variability and chances of predation wrecking our data by having three pens of each element we were testing for. So, we chose two amendments (based on taste test surveys and the availability and cost of the materials) HUMATES, CLAY and CONTROL.

In Y2, we also controlled the amount of feed we gave the birds based on the number of the birds that were in each pen. With the first study we filled the feeders twice a day and measured the amount of feed we gave them. The problem was that in the pen that suffered the most predator pressure, the birds that were left had more space and more available grain per bird, which contributed to them appearing to have done so well.

http://www.welphatchery.com/cornish_rock_care.asp

We entered our recorded data. We analyzed the data for feed conversion ratios and mortality.

We developed a taste test survey, found willing volunteers and distributed chickens for them to compare. We collected an analyzed their results.

We took soil samples and are analyzing the results.

We did nutritional testing and are analyzing the results.

Our manure analysis was a failure for we did not collect enough manure for the sample.

We gathered materials for bacterial testing. This involved a lot of consulting and research to determine which tests to perform, obtaining sterile bags, determining the quantity of buffered peptide water need for the samples and swab analysis from the lab. We needed to make delivery arrangements so our sample would arrive intact and viable. This was really challenging for us because we live so far away from the lab. Our testing was performed in Portland by Northeast Laboratory.

There are still a few aspects of our study that we still need to complete. We need to finish our analysis of the soil tests and nutritional testing. We need to do more outreach. We have a talk scheduled at the NOFA New York Conference and the Vermont Farm Show. We need to shorten our results to submit to poultry trade show magazines and newspapers. We need to analyze a bit more data in relation to manure analysis and nutrient analysis. We need to write our final report and complete our invoicing.

Our farm

In 2012, we raised and sold about 10,000 broilers, 450 turkeys, 38 pigs, and 25 cows for beef. We rotationally grazed our 50 cow dairy herd and established local relationships to house our heifers and beef on off-farm facilities. We continued to expand our markets and delivery routes. Our seedling and vegetable production remained the same.

We began working with other local, certified organic farmers to raise broilers in chicken tractors on their farms. We gained valuable experience in looking at expense structures and price points as well as negotiations about logistics such as transportation, brooding, harvest dates, etc. We set up production templates to help us better manage our flocks, grain consumption, chicken tractor demands, butcher dates, mortality and feeding our birds along a curve.

We had a great crew which made all the difference in the world. They were committed to the care of the birds and took their learning experience seriously. They did a great job and were instrumental in us being able to grow, process, produce, package, distribute and sell all our food and farm products.

Our collaborator

Mark Fulford continues to be an excellent resource for my project. He has helped to advise and take samples, look at the soil and grain data and talk through results. He co-presented our results to date at the Maine Organic Farmer’s and Gardner’s Association’s winter conference, the “Farmer-to-Farmer in November. He continues to be a liaison between our certifier and the materials.

There were numerous others who helped me decide which tests I needed and helped to decipher the results. I worked with Dr. Henrietta Beaufeat in the Department of Agriculture as well as experts at Northeast Laboratory Services to determine how to go about testing for bacteria. We consulted with Beth Calder and Shelly Brown of Katahdin laboratory services about the nutritional testing and Mark Fulford and Lancaster Agricultural Services about testing the soil and grain. I consulted with Dr. Anne Lichtenwalner and the University of Maine about manure samples. We consulted with Mary Ellen Camire, the Sensory scientist and Al Bushway of Food science and Human Nutrition at the University of Maine food science department with the design of our Consumer Acceptability and Taste Test Survey.

With help from, Jane Bell, Amanda Henderson, Amy Stiner and Gregg Stiner; we were able to set up the experiment, make observations, take photographs, collect the data, analyze it, graph it and report it.

• General Stats of SARE 1 and SARE 2
• Picture of the chicken tractors

Accomplishments/Milestones

In SARE 1: The feed conversion ratios are a little messy and inconclusive. The idea was to measure the total amount of feed and divide it by the total amount meat those chickens produced. We were weighing our mortality to factor that into our total amount of meat, but after the predator attacks, were not able to weigh the chickens (or pieces of the chicken) that were carried away. Our data around feed conversion that we are sharing with you reflects that loss and needs to be taken into consideration. It is substantially higher than the birds tested in SARE Y2.

Mortality:
In SARE Y1, mortality results were skewed due to the predator
If the minerals contributed to a lower mortality in your flock, that would also contribute to a better feed to meat ratio.

Taste testing Results:

32 People tasted a pair of chickens

Following the same cooking instructions they compared the 2 birds for:
Taste Aroma
Texture Gen. acceptability

Responses indicate a slight preference for the birds fed clay or humates compared to the control.

Bacterial Testing Results:
We determined we wanted a total viable count and a general salmonella species and a general Ecoli species test. We did a rinse test for the total viable counts and a swab test for the Ecoli and Salmonella.

Do the minerals that are added to the diet of the bird contribute to less harmful bacteria on and in its carcass?

– Need a larger sample size to make any conclusions

– Each variable (CLAY, HUMATES, CONTROL) would need multiple tests (at least 30 total: 10 per group)

Other considerations:
– Unfamiliar process; our first stab at collecting bacterial samples

– Generally a wide range of variation in the numbers of bacterial samples

We also analyzed our processing to identify the steps that would decrease the bacterial load on the birds.

After evisceration, Rinse the bird. Spray bird with organic apple cider vinegar at a 2.5% solution.

BEFORE: Colony Forming Units/g AFTER:
Total Viable Count: 37,000 Total Viable Count: 1,800

95% reduction in bacterial units

Want a log reduction…37,000 à 3,700 à 370
1 Log à 2 Logs

Repeat the test to see if you have consistent results. IF so, keep it up, the step of spraying apple cider vinegar is working.

• Chart of Bacterial Results
• SARE 2 Dressed Weights
• SARE 2, Cumulative Feed per Bird
• Feed Conversion Ratio over Dressed Weights
• SARE 1, Cumulative Feed per Bird

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

We determined the feed and additive costs per bird. It is important to know how much it is costing you to feed your birds.

Pay attention to how much you feed your birds!
– Feed at consistent times
– Select a feeder they can’t scratch the grain out
– Don’t fill the feeders too full
– Feed along the curve (a specific amount of grain per day based on number of birds being fed and their age)

We learned a great deal about feed conversions. When comparing feed conversions, be sure to know whether the comparison refers to the live weight or dressed weight of the bird. When doing a literature review, we discovered that feed conversion ratios for Cornish Cross birds vary from 2.51 to 5.5 lbs of grain for every pound of meat. Industry reports that value based on the live weight, not dressed weight, which would affect the conversion ratio. If you were basing the feed ratio on live weight it would be lower than dressed weight. We tested the live weight to dressed weight on multiple batches of birds. In our results, the average was 76%.

We learned how much grain the birds eat throughout the different weeks of their life and how to incorporate that into chores on a working poultry farm.

We gained a tool in reducing flock mortality due to predator pressure. Weighted chicken wire.

We gained a greater understanding of how mortality affects feed expenses per bird.
Realistic costs of grain per bird and data on certified organic, pastured poultry feed conversion ratios.

We discovered problems with groups of birds in an outdoor environment…birds mysteriously left pens and appeared in pens…if birds wound up outside of the pens, we would have to make our best guess as to where they came from.

We would like to repeat the study in an indoor facility where birds could not as easily become “lost” would help protect the data.

We have a helpful resource list of the different minerals and supplements we used, where to source them and how much they cost.

4. Say whether the results from your project so far generated new ideas or a change in tack about what is needed to solve the problem you were working on.

We began this project to address the issue that grain, especially organic grain is extremely expensive component to raising chickens. When we began our proposal our grain was between .30 and.35 per pound. Last month it was .42 cents for 21% protein chick starter from MOM and .48 cents for 20% chick starter from Sawyerville. Paying attention to how much you feed your birds, feeding them at consistent times and both feeder selection and filling the feeders to the appropriate level to discourage the birds from scratching it out not spilling grain will also greatly help get you more out of your grain.

Dollars and cents…its tricky to make healthy agricultural decisions based on those two sole factors…Most decisions that take into the account improving (and going beyond not damaging) the health of the environment, animal, consumers and community cannot be given a fair chance in the economic model corporations follow. We need to create a new model that works for us and being financially rewarded for taking those other factors into consideration and stewarding the land and nutrient content of the food.

The idea that triggered our project continues to increase in value. We also know that the price of grain is continuing to rise, with this year’s grain prices expected to be higher than last year’s. The research SARE has funded is only becoming more and more valuable if it can provide information to help farmers better manage their poultry’s feed consumption

We will be continuing with some independent studies with our birds that we are raising over the winter to see if we can get any more conclusive feed ratio data without the pasture variable.
Feels frustrating to not have clear cut results and recommendations…I can’t tell you based on our data to without a doubt add clay and humates to the diet of your chickens and you will have lower feed conversion ratio, but there is also nothing to suggest that it is harmful…and there are several components that suggest it could be helpful… Minerals are an important part of a healthy system for soil, animals and humans. How do they get there? They need to be added. Pastured poultry is a unique way to add them.

• Template to feed your broilers along the curve
• Costs of feeding the birds

Collaborators: