Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
door access in the final rule, North Carolina state veterinarian David Marshall declared that
“while noble in its intent, this concept (outdoor access) is ill conceived and not conducive to
mass rearing of poultry.” 11 Indeed, he may be correct that organic production is no place for
large confinement operations. Perhaps “large” organic growers can only achieve mass pro-
ductivity by contracting out to several small farms that are willing and able to follow not only
the letter of the law on organic management, but also its spirit.
Beyond Outdoor Access: Grazing and Pasturing
Besides mere outdoor access, there is a strong tradition among organic producers to provide
poultry of all types with high-quality forage on range. Proper forage is part of the bird's natural
eating behavior and diet, and many would say it adds flavor to their eggs and meat. It certainly
increases a key nutrient content—it has been known for years that eggs from birds raised on ac-
tual forage are higher in omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients 12 and current studies continue
to confirm this in birds raised on managed, rotated grass/legume pastures, not those with dirt
yards or sun porches. 13 (Not all nutrients have been similarly compared.)
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