[vetsinag] Farm Tip Tuesday -- Poultry Production Resources

Tue Apr 28 13:56:28 MDT 2020

Farm Tip Tuesday: today we have some resources on poultry production to share. Read on for links to videos, podcasts, and a new farm financial planning tool.

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If you're interested in egg production, here is some information from NCAT's ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture Question of the Week<https://attra.ncat.org/category/question-of-the-week/>:

Question: How should I sanitize fresh farm eggs?

Answer:  After washing, eggs are sanitized to reduce microbial load.

Chlorine-based sanitizers should be from 50 to 200 ppm (Zeidler, 2002). However, using less than 100 ppm chlorine may help protect the cuticle (Hutchison et al., 2003). One tablespoon of household chlorine bleach, usually 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite, per gallon of water will result in a solution of 200 ppm chlorine (McGlynn, 2009).  Free chlorine level must be frequently checked because chlorine is inactivated by organic material such as dirt. Chlorine test strips are available in restaurant supply stores.

Organic requirements permit a final rinse with a chlorine level less than 4 ppm, the limit under the Safe Drinking Water Act. See the OMRI Products List<https://www.omri.org/subscribe?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvICb3JT36AIVltlkCh2ZYw6SEAAYASAAEgK_ifD_BwE> for approved sanitizers and check with the individual company to ensure the product can be used on shell eggs.

Eggs should be dried after washing and sanitizing, and before packing and storing, to prevent fungal and microbial growth. Eggs can be dried by evaporation, with fan assistance, or by wiping.

To learn more on this topic, check out ATTRA’s Small-Scale Egg Handling<https://attra.ncat.org/product/small-scale-egg-handling/> publication. It addresses collecting, cleaning, grading, storage, and distribution, among other topics.

In addition, take a look at the Poultry<https://attra.ncat.org/topics/poultry/> section of ATTRA’s website, where we offer a host of useful resources, including publications and podcasts.

References:

Hutchison, M. L., J. Gittins, A. Walker, A. Moore, C. Burton and N. Sparks. 2003. Washing table eggs: A review of scientific and engineering issues. World’s Poultry Science Association. 59:233-248.

McGlynn, William. Guidelines for the Use of Chlorine Bleach as a Sanitizer in Food Processing Operations. Food Technology Fact Sheet. Oklahoma State University. http://osuextra.okstate.edu/pdfs/FAPC-116web.pdf

Zeidler, G. 2002. Processing and Packaging Shell Eggs. p. 1107-1129. In: D.D. Bell and W.D. Weaver (eds.). Commercial Chicken Meat and Egg Production. 5th ed. Springer Publishers, New York, NY.

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Check out the new Sustainable Poultry Production video<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLyJ47HQt2A&feature=youtu.be> from NCAT Agriculture Specialist Felicia Bell, who works in the NCAT Gulf States<https://www.facebook.com/NCATGulfStates/?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARB1fcLyoZDuUjVl6W3lmDLoweqtzhCYtAr6FUKwCsCBYyEUPEMbuL4i6mPmKG2ylSaTZA5CaJzK3UFH&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAW64_K4UKxElairyQm8OS_JSJGJCawLwDz13r2D05DXj2WPtwBuzCuNwg5HBv3oXJWYFr2xVEbDe4GTt8ew8OYbeJXY226V-MTTQjyvC6f9Q0WEBQSv4numXEVDze_YKjKhnV0VY3CD2ZZ2ZxQ08DStlYbJfLRTiiDQaUZCR5ESf8rQre_Mk5NLFKDye_bKM16oPCFTj0JH17rMyoVzLZxYH4Y2VOQW0xQs-YicglNzkN2CCpgxvZcOM3PfBA5_IllWUekXKL_jC-T7x9v8B1D8ucpEgEn39TWECMR-dDVrLG05MzvxprGrpPJ5Zqnq_OHyyz49ksikDf4_lGin5c> office in Jackson, MS. She talks about the benefits of adding poultry to your existing livestock or crop operation or to a homestead. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLyJ47HQt2A&feature=youtu.be<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLyJ47HQt2A&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3qztu_V6InRcjknkxYq5K5Viwcrk9cc85esD4lU3A4qiS9WrzC-Wub0GA>

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NCAT's Agriculture Specialists have recorded several podcast episodes on poultry production--here is a small sample. You can listen online at the links below, or find the ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture podcast on your favorite podcast app.

Poultry Processing Strategies<https://attra.ncat.org/poultry-processing-strategies-podcast/>--Ann Baier, a program specialist in NCAT's Davis, CA based Western Regional office, talks with California pastured poultry producers Caleb Barron of Fogline Farm on the central coast of Santa Cruz and Gary Roberts of Zenter’s Fogbound Farm in Petaluma.
Alternative Feed for Poultry<https://attra.ncat.org/alternative-feed-for-poultry/>--Margo Hale, Regional Director of NCAT’s Southeast Regional office in Fayetteville, Arkansas, talks with Dr. Anne Fanatico about ecological poultry production and alternative feeds for poultry diets. Anne teaches and conducts research at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.
Texas-Sized Sustainable Pasture Operations: Greener Pastures Chicken<https://attra.ncat.org/texas-sized-sustainable-pasture-operations-greener-pastures-chicken/>--Colin Mitchell, a sustainable agriculture specialist with NCAT’s Southwest Regional Office in San Antonio, TX, hosts Cameron Molberg, owner of a larger-scale organic and pastured chicken operation, Greener Pastures Chicken, located in Elgin, Texas.
Poultry Processing <https://attra.ncat.org/poultry-processing-podcast/> --NCAT Southeast's Margo Hale interviews Terrell Spencer of Across the Creek Farm in Fayetteville, AR

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>From ATTRA Sustainable Agriculture's Latest News<https://attra.ncat.org/category/news/>: There is a new Livestock Compass spreadsheet available for meat and egg producers.

The Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is offering a new Livestock Compass <http://cias.wisc.edu/new-livestock-compass-spreadsheet/> spreadsheet. The Compass Toolbox project has created a range of whole-farm profit management tools to help growers improve on-farm decision making and financial farm planning. The spreadsheet tools calculate the costs of production and the profitability of different market channels using a farmer’s financial data. The improved Livestock Compass for meat and egg producers is available online. You will have to fill out a brief information form, but the download is free.

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If you have questions about poultry production, or any other sustainable farming questions, please contact NCAT's sustainable agriculture specialists! You can email askanag at ncat.org or call 800-346-9140.

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Robyn Metzger

Program Specialist/Armed to Farm Coordinator

National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)

www.ncat.org/armedtofarm<http://www.ncat.org/armedtofarm>

www.attra.ncat.org<http://www.attra.ncat.org>

479-442-9824
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