Sparks, N.H.C., Conroy, M.A. and Sandilands, V. (2008) Socio-economic drivers for UK organic pullet rearers and the implications for poultry health. British Poultry Science, 49 (5). pp. 525-532. ISSN 0007-1668 (Print), 1466-1799 (Online) (doi:10.1080/00071660802290416)

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Abstract

1. Certified organic pullet producers were surveyed to gain a better understanding of the production environment, to identify the key constraints to organic pullet rearing and to identify factors that affected bird health.
2. Pullet rearers had been involved in organic production for between 1 and 12 years.
3. The number of pullets reared per annum ranged from 6 to 12 000 and the number of birds housed per unit from550 to41000.
4. The primary reason for being involved in organic production was given as ‘commercial’ with ‘environmental’ and ‘welfare’ being the next most popular categories.
5. Fewer than 50% of the respondents vaccinated their flocks and, for those that were protected, the diseases vaccinated against frequently were Newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis and Marek’s disease. Annual mortality ranged from 52 to 47% with smothering accounting for 25% of all mortality.
6. Approximately 40% of respondents saw no constraints to rearing organic pullets while others identified a range of factors including capital, availability of land and inadequate margins as being the primary constraint.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	production systems, light-intensity, feather pecking, animal health, laying hens, quality, welfare, food
Subjects:	S Agriculture > SF Animal culture
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Engineering & Science Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute Faculty of Engineering & Science > Natural Resources Institute > Livelihoods & Institutions Department
Related URLs:	Publisher
Last Modified:	27 Jan 2020 15:44
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/2158

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