WorldPoultry.net - December 18, 2006. Canadian researchers produce healthier chickens with probiotics
A University of Guelph professor, and an Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada food researcher have found that giving chickens probiotics stimulates their immune system and reduces the Salmonella bacteria in their gut by more than 99%. Full text.
Electric Prod and Organic Beef Production
Throughout the history of agriculture and in all facets of animal production, the welfare of farm animals has been impacted by a variety of economic, political, and social forces. Organic animal production is impacted by the same forces, but responds to them from within its own philosophical frame of reference. Concentration and centralization of the processing industry and increased societal awareness and concern about animal welfare issues have raised concerns about animal welfare during transportation and slaughter. In both organic and conventional agriculture, the accelerating rate of change affects all aspects of production and processing. Read more [.doc format 101k]
Poultry Production I'd sooner be a small bird in a hawk-filled wood than a caged chicken on a factory farm.
- Simon Barnes in How to be a Bad Birdwatcher
Eggs
Upcoming Changes in Standards
In the latest draft of the Canadian National Standards there is a requirement that poultry layer birds must be organic from 2nd day of life. This is also true under U.S. NOP Standards. Currently COABC standards allow for a 90-day cleansing period (under organic management) for layers to convert from non-organic to organic. If the Canadian National Standards are passed as a mandatory minimum standard then COABC would have to change our standards to meet this requirement of organic layers being under organic management from 2nd day of life.
- by Sarah Davidson January 5, 2003