Organic egg production
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Organic egg production is the production of eggs through organic means. In this process, the poultry are fed organic feed. The poultry must have access to the outdoors and are in a cage-free environment. Organic egg producers cannot use antibiotics except during an infectious outbreak. Only natural molting can occur within the flock; forced molting is not allowed.
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[edit] Organic feed
Organic feed is grown by certified organic farmers. To become a certified organic farmer, the crop must be free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The crop must be free of GMOs and synthetic fertilization for three years before it can be certified for organic usage. If the crop is contaminated by cross-fertilization, the crop is rendered useless for organic grading. Finally, there can be no animal by-products fed to the poultry.
The organic poultry industry remains dependent upon synthetic forms of methionine. Use of synthetic methionine in organic poultry production was to be phased out by October 2005, but an extension has been granted to October 2008 due to a lack of suitable sources. New ration ingredients that have high methionine levels, such as pearl millet are needed to address these needs.
[edit] Living conditions
In organic egg production, the flock must live cage-free with access to the outdoors. Organic egg layers are still raised in confinement like industrial egg layers are. The birds are raised to live free-roaming throughout the barn. The number of birds that live in a barn is calculated using the amount of square footage in the barn and the square footage birds need. In an organic operation, nesting boxes are placed above a belted system. This allows for the free roaming birds to lay their eggs on the belts instead of on the ground. Eggs laid on the ground are not allowed to be sold for human consumption. The belted system then collects the eggs so that farmers don’t have to on a regular basis, which could upset the birds and affect egg production levels. The birds must be trained to lay eggs in the nesting boxes, which is achieved through light manipulation. The birds must also be allowed to have access to the outdoors "if they so choose". This means that there are small doors placed throughout the barn. Periodically, the doors open up to a paddock enclosed by nets, which are used to keep predators such as birds of prey and raccoons from getting into the paddock, reaching the birds, and killing them.
[edit] Antibiotics
Organic egg producers cannot feed low-level antibiotics to the poultry. Antibiotics are only allowed during an outbreak of infection or disease. There can be some potential downfalls to not using low-level antibiotics in the feed.
[edit] Molting
Organic egg producers do not induce a molt within their flock. Molting is considered harsh treatment of the poultry within certain communities. The birds are allowed to go into a natural molt but are not induced to make a profit.
