Best Practices for Sustainable Pasture-Based Systems with Laying Hens: A Forage Rotation Model for Enhanced Animal Welfare and Egg Quality

Commodities

• Agronomic: other
• Animals: poultry
• Animal Products: eggs

Practices

• Animal Production: feed/forage, other
• Crop Production: crop improvement and selection

The focus of our research is to address the nutritional gap in eggs produced by indoor-raised hens, which arises from their limited access to natural foraging options like greens, insects, and seeds. While commercial feed is nutritionally complete, it lacks the variety found in a pasture-based system, resulting in eggs that are lower in essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A and E, and selenium.

Our research question is: How does access to diverse foraging crops in a pasture-based system affect the nutritional content of eggs? Collaborating with our technical advisor, Richard Blatchford, a Cooperative Extension Poultry Management Specialist, we aim to refine forage systems over time to enhance the nutritional benefits for hens and improve egg quality. We will document yearly variations in pasture and crop rotations to identify the best combinations for boosting egg nutrition and hen welfare.

This project will compare the nutritional profiles of eggs from pasture-raised hens to those from indoor-raised hens on commercial feed, focusing on critical nutrients. Annual lab tests will evaluate egg nutritional content, guiding crop rotation and forage selection for continuous optimization. Our goal is to demonstrate that pasture-based systems lead to higher-quality, nutrient-rich eggs while enhancing hen welfare.

Our project promotes sustainable agriculture by establishing a model that integrates diverse forage into pasture-raised systems. By implementing forage rotation, we expect to improve soil health, reduce supplemental feed costs, and provide higher-quality protein for consumers. The model will serve as a resource for various stakeholders through workshops, field demonstrations, research publications, online resources, and partnerships with agricultural organizations. Our goal is to share findings and best practices that support sustainable agricultural practices, benefiting farmers, consumers, and the environment.

• Identify Nutritional Gaps: Investigate
  nutritional deficiencies in eggs from indoor-raised hens
  lacking natural foraging options.
• Research Question: Analyze how diverse
  foraging crops in pasture-based systems affect egg nutrition,
  focusing on omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A and E, and
  selenium.
• Collaborative Refinement: Partner with Richard
  Blatchford, a Poultry Management Specialist, to enhance forage
  systems for optimal nutritional benefits and egg quality.
• Document Crop Rotations: Track yearly pasture
  and crop rotations to find the best combinations for improving
  egg nutrition and hen welfare.
• Comparative Analysis: Compare nutritional
  profiles of eggs from pasture-raised versus indoor-raised hens
  on commercial feed.
• Annual Lab Tests: Perform yearly tests to
  assess egg nutritional content, guiding crop rotation and
  forage selection.
• Demonstrate Benefits: Highlight that
  pasture-based systems produce higher-quality, nutrient-dense
  eggs and improve hen welfare.
• Promote Sustainable Agriculture: Create a
  model that integrates diverse forage in pasture systems to
  enhance soil health, lower feed costs, and deliver better
  protein to consumers.
• • Resource Development: Create a model to
  share research findings and best practices through accessible
  resources.
• Support Sustainable Practices: Encourage the
  adoption of sustainable agricultural practices that benefit
  farmers, consumers, and the environment.