Feed Efficiency of Feed Efficiency of Pastured Poultry SystemsPastured Poultry Systems

Michael Seipel, Joy Chisholm, Catherine Zivnuska, Michael Seipel, Joy Chisholm, Catherine Zivnuska, ((Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri)Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri)

And David Trott And David Trott (University of Wisconsin-Madison)(University of Wisconsin-Madison)

What is Pastured Poultry?What is Pastured Poultry? Pastured poultryPastured poultry: used to describe a variety of : used to describe a variety of

production systems in which the birds (chickens, production systems in which the birds (chickens, turkeys, etc.) have access to forageturkeys, etc.) have access to forage

Salatin penSalatin pen: an open-bottomed pen, moved daily to : an open-bottomed pen, moved daily to fresh pasturefresh pasture

Day-range systemDay-range system: semi-permanent shelter with a : semi-permanent shelter with a large yard enclosed with electric netting, inside large yard enclosed with electric netting, inside which the chickens foragewhich the chickens forage

Other systems:Other systems: yarding, modified free-range, chicken yarding, modified free-range, chicken tractortractor

Growing Interest in Pastured PoultryGrowing Interest in Pastured Poultry Interest from both farmers and consumers in Interest from both farmers and consumers in

alternative production and marketing systemsalternative production and marketing systems Low-input approach to poultry productionLow-input approach to poultry production Offers ecological, agronomic (fertilizer), and health Offers ecological, agronomic (fertilizer), and health

benefitsbenefits Reduced feed costs due to foraging (?) Reduced feed costs due to foraging (?)

Poultry producer Joel Salatin: broilers raised on pasture Poultry producer Joel Salatin: broilers raised on pasture consume 30% less feed than broilers raised on free consume 30% less feed than broilers raised on free choice feed alonechoice feed alone

Yet, there has been little interest from poultry Yet, there has been little interest from poultry scientists in researching pasture production systemsscientists in researching pasture production systems

There is a need for both on-farm and university-There is a need for both on-farm and university-sponsored research to provide information to sponsored research to provide information to improve pasture production operationsimprove pasture production operations

Research QuestionResearch Question

How does the feed How does the feed conversion rate and conversion rate and total weight gain of total weight gain of

broilers differ in broilers differ in alternative pastured alternative pastured poultry systems and poultry systems and

confinement confinement systems?systems?

Methods and ProcedureMethods and Procedure Research began in Spring 2001, due to student interest, with subsequent trials conducted Research began in Spring 2001, due to student interest, with subsequent trials conducted

in the Spring & Fall of 2002 & 2003 in the Spring & Fall of 2002 & 2003 Cornish x White Rock broilers at 3 weeks of age were ranked and assigned by weight to Cornish x White Rock broilers at 3 weeks of age were ranked and assigned by weight to

one of these groups (approx. 50 birds per group):one of these groups (approx. 50 birds per group):• Inside: Raised in indoor pen with straw bedding on a dirt floor (Spring 2001-Fall 2002)Inside: Raised in indoor pen with straw bedding on a dirt floor (Spring 2001-Fall 2002)• ““Salatin”: Raised in a 10’x12’ “Salatin-style” pen, moved daily to fresh pasture (all trials)Salatin”: Raised in a 10’x12’ “Salatin-style” pen, moved daily to fresh pasture (all trials)• Day-Range: Allowed to forage within a yard daily and confined to a house at night; House Day-Range: Allowed to forage within a yard daily and confined to a house at night; House

moved weekly to a new location (Fall 2002 & Fall 2003)moved weekly to a new location (Fall 2002 & Fall 2003) Individual weights measured at the beginning, midpoint, and end of feeding trialIndividual weights measured at the beginning, midpoint, and end of feeding trial Group feed consumption record maintained throughout the trialGroup feed consumption record maintained throughout the trial Study evaluated weight gain and feed conversion or efficiency for each groupStudy evaluated weight gain and feed conversion or efficiency for each group Feed conversion (efficiency)Feed conversion (efficiency): pounds of feed concentrate consumed for every pound of : pounds of feed concentrate consumed for every pound of

weight gainedweight gained

Methods and ProcedureMethods and Procedure

Each group was fed, Each group was fed, ad ad libitum,libitum, an 18% protein ration an 18% protein ration of cracked corn and poultry of cracked corn and poultry crumbles. crumbles. (15% used in pre-Fall 2003 trials)(15% used in pre-Fall 2003 trials)

Other data collected included:Other data collected included:• Temperature dataTemperature data• Mortality ratesMortality rates• Spring 2002: Fecal analysis for Spring 2002: Fecal analysis for

internal parasitesinternal parasites

Results: Weight Gain Fall 2002Results: Weight Gain Fall 2002

2.82

4.16

1.56

2.93

4.49

1.5

3.67

5.17

1.39

3.26

4.64

1.34

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Day 0-13 Day 14-33 Total

Weight Gain Interval

Ga

in p

er

Bir

d (

lb)

Inside A (n=22)Inside B (n=24)Salatin (n=55)Day-Range (n=55)

Results: Feed Efficiency Fall 2002Results: Feed Efficiency Fall 2002

2.71

4.09

3.63

2.532.76 2.67

2.412.57 2.51

2.132.27 2.22

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Days 0-13 Days 14-33 TotalWeight Gain Interval

Fe

ed

Eff

icie

nc

y (

lb f

ee

d/lb

ga

in)

Inside A (n=22)Inside B (n=24)Salatin (n=55)Day-Range (n=55)

Results: Significance (Fall 2002)Results: Significance (Fall 2002)

  Days 0-13 Days 14-29 Total

F-Statistic 7.202, p<0.000 63.940, p<0.000 46.829, p<0.000

Indoor A 2.713a 4.091a 3.633a

Indoor B 2.532a 2.763b 2.666b

Salatin pen 2.406a,b 2.566b,c 2.506b,c

Day-range 2.134b 2.270c 2.217c

One-Way ANOVA with Tukey’s HSD Post-Hoc

Feed Efficiency

Weight GainDays 0-13Days 0-13 Days 14-29Days 14-29 TotalTotal

F-StatisticF-Statistic 3.660, p<0.0143.660, p<0.014 19.497, p<0.00019.497, p<0.000 11.530, p<0.00011.530, p<0.000

Indoor AIndoor A 1.3411.341a 2.8162.816aa 4.1574.157aa

Indoor BIndoor B 1.5611.561bb 2.9262.926a,ba,b 4.4874.487aa

Salatin penSalatin pen 1.5011.501a,ba,b 3.6653.665cc 5.1665.166bb

Day-rangeDay-range 1.3851.385a,ba,b 3.2563.256bb 4.6414.641aa

Results: Weight Gain, Spring 2003Results: Weight Gain, Spring 2003

Significance (p): Independent Samples T-Test

  Days 0-14 Days 15-28 Total

Day Range vs. Salatin 0.440 0.020 0.060

2.192.39

4.58

2.242.56

4.79

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Days 0-14 Days 15-28 Total

Weight Gain Interval

Ga

in p

er

Bir

d (

lbs

) Day Range

Salatin

Results: Feed Efficiency Spring Results: Feed Efficiency Spring 20032003

Significance (p): Independent Samples T-Test

  Days 0-14 Days 15-28 Total

Day Range vs. Salatin 0.000 0.839 0.000

1.9

2.62

2.242.31

2.602.44

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Days 0-14 Days 15-28 TotalWeight Gain Interval

Fe

ed

Eff

icie

nc

y (

lb f

ee

d/l

b g

ain

)

Day Range

Salatin

Feed Efficiency: Comparison Across TrialsFeed Efficiency: Comparison Across Trials

2.24

2.492.65

2.37

2.672.51

2.22

2.44

2.24

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Inside Salatin Day-Range

Poultry Production System

Fe

ed

Eff

icie

nc

y (

lb f

ee

d/lb

ga

in)

Spring 2001Spring 2002Fall 2002Spring 2003

Results: Mortality RatesResults: Mortality Rates

Cold weather during the first half of the Spring trials decreased feed efficiency & Cold weather during the first half of the Spring trials decreased feed efficiency & increased mortalityincreased mortality

Frequent heavy rainfall negatively impacted pastured broilers in Spring 2002Frequent heavy rainfall negatively impacted pastured broilers in Spring 2002

April may be too early for outdoor production in northern MissouriApril may be too early for outdoor production in northern Missouri

GroupGroup Spring 2001Spring 2001 Spring 2002Spring 2002 Fall 2002Fall 2002

InsideInside 20.4%20.4% 7.1%7.1% 10.9%10.9%

Salatin PenSalatin Pen 14.3%14.3% 47.6%47.6% 0%0%

Day RangeDay Range N/AN/A N/AN/A 3.6%3.6%

New for Fall 2003: New for Fall 2003: “Rainbow Free Range” Broilers“Rainbow Free Range” Broilers

Fall 2003 trial was performed with a breed being Fall 2003 trial was performed with a breed being developed for range productiondeveloped for range production• Genetics include White Rock, Delaware, Red Sex-Link Genetics include White Rock, Delaware, Red Sex-Link

and other breedsand other breeds• Birds are supposed to be slower growing, more active, Birds are supposed to be slower growing, more active,

and better foragers than the Cornish-Rock Crossand better foragers than the Cornish-Rock Cross• Developed by Rainbow Breeder Company LLC; Being Developed by Rainbow Breeder Company LLC; Being

distributed by Shady Lane Poultry Farm in Kentuckydistributed by Shady Lane Poultry Farm in Kentucky• Anticipated growout period of 12 to 13 weeks (versus 7 Anticipated growout period of 12 to 13 weeks (versus 7

weeks for Cornish-Rock Cross)weeks for Cornish-Rock Cross)• However, in our experience, cockerels could have been However, in our experience, cockerels could have been

processed at 10 weeks of age.processed at 10 weeks of age.

Comparison of Average Daily Gain: Comparison of Average Daily Gain: Cornish-Rock vs. Rainbow Free RangeCornish-Rock vs. Rainbow Free Range

0.141

0.164

0.083

0.157

0.171

0.091

0

0.02

0.04

0.06

0.08

0.1

0.12

0.14

0.16

0.18

Cornish_F02 (33 days) Cornish_S03 (28 days) Rainbow_F03 (42 days)

Breed & Trial Date

Ave

rag

e D

aily

Gai

n (

lbs.

/bir

d)

Day Range Salatin

Note: ADG evaluated for the entire period the Cornish were on pasture andfor the comparable 6 week period that the Rainbow were on pasture

ConclusionsConclusions Farmers should Farmers should not expect large feed savingsnot expect large feed savings from from

pastured poultry as compared to confinementpastured poultry as compared to confinement• Pastured poultry are more active and have greater energy needsPastured poultry are more active and have greater energy needs• Fall trial indicated that pastured poultry can gain more efficiently Fall trial indicated that pastured poultry can gain more efficiently

under favorable weather conditionsunder favorable weather conditions Birds forage most during the early morning & Birds forage most during the early morning &

evening hours; evening hours; feed efficiency might be enhanced by feed efficiency might be enhanced by restricting feed intake during these timesrestricting feed intake during these times

Between the two pasture systems tested...Between the two pasture systems tested... Birds gain faster in Salatin pensBirds gain faster in Salatin pens Birds consume less grain concentrates per pound of gain in Birds consume less grain concentrates per pound of gain in

the Day Range penthe Day Range pen Labor requirements are less in the Day Range pen, Labor requirements are less in the Day Range pen,

especially for commercial-scale productionespecially for commercial-scale production

ConclusionsConclusions Rainbow Free RangeRainbow Free Range and other broilers bred for and other broilers bred for

pasture production may eventually provide a preferable pasture production may eventually provide a preferable alternative to the Cornish-Rock cross. Currently...alternative to the Cornish-Rock cross. Currently... Rainbow Free Range are more aggressive foragers and Rainbow Free Range are more aggressive foragers and

generally more active in range conditions, but gain more generally more active in range conditions, but gain more slowly than Cornishslowly than Cornish

Mortality ratesMortality rates can have a much larger impact on can have a much larger impact on profitability than feed conversionprofitability than feed conversion

Marketing and processingMarketing and processing are more pressing are more pressing concerns for most small-scale producers concerns for most small-scale producers

Environmental benefits and consumer appeal of Environmental benefits and consumer appeal of pastured poultry offer pastured poultry offer marketing advantagesmarketing advantages that that should outweigh any increased feed costshould outweigh any increased feed cost

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Truman State University, Science DivisionTruman State University, Science Division Joy Chisholm, David Trott, Jeff Cox, Catherine Zivnuska, Joy Chisholm, David Trott, Jeff Cox, Catherine Zivnuska,

Justin KelleyJustin Kelley Dr. Susan GuffeyDr. Susan Guffey

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