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Organic Poultry

An extract from the book by Katie Thear
published by Broad Leys Publishing Ltd

What is Organic?

My old English teacher always stressed the importance of defining terms; otherwise, she would ask us gravely, how would anyone know what anyone else was talking about? So, it is prudent to follow her sterling example and start with some definitions.

Poultry

Officially, the following birds are recognised as poultry and are therefore subject to regulation: chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowl.

Organic

There are three ways of describing what is meant by the term organic: the dictionary definition, the traditional definition as most people know it, and the legal one.

Dictionary definition The dictionary definition is that it is a coordinated whole with various factors contributing to an organised body, where the connected and interdependent parts share a common life.

Traditional definition Those who have been organic before there was even a legal definition of the term understand that their activities are benign, humane and enhance the environment rather than damage it. They work on the following principles that have been defined by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM):

• Produce food of high quality in sufficient quantity.
• Interact in a constructive and life-enhancing way with natural systems and cycles.
• Consider the wider social and ecological impact of the organic production processing system.
• Encourage and enhance biological cycles within the farming system involving micro-organisms, soil flora, plants and animals.
• Maintain and increase the long-term fertility of soil.
• Maintain the genetic diversity of the production system and its surroundings, including the protection of plant and wildlife habitats.
• Use as far as possible renewable resources in locally organised production systems.
• Create a harmonious balance between crop production and animal husbandry.
• Give all livestock conditions of life with due consideration for the basic aspects of their innate behaviour.
• Minimise all forms of pollution.
• Process organic products using renewable resources.
• Allow those involved in organic production and processing, quality of life which meets their basic needs and allows an adequate return and satisfaction from their work, including a safe working environment
• Progress towards an entire production, processing and distribution chain that is socially just and ecologically responsible.

Legal definition When it comes to the production of food, the word organic also has a legal definition so that consumers may be assured that so-called organic produce has been produced in a humane way and by sustainable management that does not damage the environment. It applies to horticultural and farming methods, crops, foods, animals and poultry and there are two sets of regulations and standards that apply:

• EU Regulation EC2092/91 which has the status of law throughout the European Union. This sets the minimum standards that are required for organic production.
• Interpretation of Standards within the UK. The EU Regulations specify that each member country has its own interpreting organisation. In the UK, this is the Advisory Committee on Organic Standards (ACOS). It was originally called United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS), and is part of the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The interpreted standards are referred to as the UK Organic Standards.

Function of ACOS

ACOS (originally UKROFS) interprets the European Union legislation for organic production within the UK. It advises the Government on organic matters and is responsible for research and development in the field. It also ensures that producers are certified as organic producers and are subject to inspection. However, the actual jobs of certification and inspection are put out to various organisations who must themselves be registered with ACOS.

Registered certification bodies

The registered bodies can set their own standards for their members. These standards may be higher than those officially required but they must not fall below those of the UK Organic Standards.
There are several approved certification organisations. Each one has its own identifying code number that must appear on the labelling of its members’ produce. They also have a logo that only registered producers may use on their packaging.

Soil Association Certification Ltd (Code: UK5)
The Soil Association has been promoting organic farming and horticulture since 1946, long before there was a legal definition of organic. Soil Association Certification Ltd was set up in 1973 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the association. It has its own standards which are higher than those of the UK Organic Standards.

Organic Farmers and Growers Ltd (Code: UK2)
Organic Farmers and Growers started as a marketing cooperative in the 1970s, later becoming a certification body when organic farming became legally defined and controlled. OF&G Standards generally conform with those of UK Organic Standards.

Organic Food Federation (Code: UK4)
Apart from a few points, the OFF Standards conform with those of the UK Organic Standards.

Organic Trust Ltd (Code: UK9)
The standards generally conform with those of the UK Organic Standards.

Biodynamic Agricultural Association/Demeter (Code: UK6)
The standards conform with those of UK Organic Standards with additional requirements based on Rudolph Steiner’s biodynamic principles.

Scottish Organic Producers’ Association (Code: UK3)
The standards generally conform with those of UK Organic Standards.

Irish Organic Farmers’ and Growers’ Association (Code: UK7)
The standards vary slightly from those of the UK Organic Standards.

Quality Welsh Food Certification Ltd (Code: UK13)
The standards generally conform with those of UK Organic Standards.

Ascisco Ltd (Code: UK15)
This was set up by the Soil Association in 2003 for those who, while able to meet the minimum UK Organic Standards, are not in a position to meet the full Soil Association standards.

CMi Certification (Code: UK10)
This company provides certification for food processors and suppliers of organic produce.

Other standards

There are several other sets of standards which are not necessarily organic but which nevertheless are relevant. Most of their recommendations are already covered by the organic standards.

Farm Animal Welfare Council Recommendations (FAWC)
This is an independent advisory organisation that was set up by the Government in 1979. It keeps the welfare of livestock under review and advises on changes that may be necessary. It emphasises the five freedoms that are essential:

• Freedom from hunger and thirst - by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
• Freedom from discomfort - by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
• Freedom from pain, injury or disease - by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
• Freedom to express normal behaviour - by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.
• Freedom from fear and distress - by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock

DEFRA have produced a range of free advisory publications for poultry and livestock. They are available from DEFRA but are not organic in coverage.

Freedom Food

This is a subsidiary of The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). It was set up to provide minimum welfare standards, but these do not specify free-range or organic as necessities. Producers who are registered with them can use their logo on packaging for their produce. Some producers are registered as organic and Freedom Food and use both logos on their produce.

Free-range

Free range is a Special Marketing Term (SMT) that was originally defined by the Egg Marketing Regulations. Eggs described as ‘free range’ must be produced by hens that are kept at a maximum of 2,500 birds per hectare (2.47 acres) and have continuous daytime access to open air runs. The regulations also cover details of housing, size of pop-holes, and so on. All organic poultry must be on free-range, but all free-range poultry do not necessarily conform to organic standards.

The organic standards include most of the requirements specified by free-range regulations, as well as the conditions that are specific to organic management. However, there is variation between the different certification bodies. For example, the basic standards that are followed by most, state that birds should have access to range when weather conditions are suitable and for at least one third of their lives. The Soil Association standards are more stringent. They require birds to have easy access to range during daylight hours, and for the minimum periods indicated below:

Which standards to follow?

The prospective producer will have to decide which of the organisations to register with, and it is a matter of personal choice. The Soil Association standards are the oldest and most widely recognised and many producers are attracted by the fact that, while listing all the UK Organic requirements, they also recommend principles that are more in keeping with the traditional small scale aspects of poultry keeping. For example, they recommend small housing units with a maximum number of birds per house, as follows:

However, under certain conditions, the following are allowed by the Soil Association:

This contrasts with the UK Organic Standards that require the following maximum per house, and which many of the other bodies follow:

It should be added that under the UK Standards the latter flock densities are only allowed in houses that were built before 24 August 2005, and for producers who were registered before that date. The derogation was to have come to an end on the above date, but as it was felt that UK producers would be at a disadvantage when compared with producers in other EU Member States, DEFRA has extended the derogation date to 31 December 2010.

My own view is that all the existing standards fall far below the ideal. Research indicates that chickens recognise each other on the basis of their head shape, and are capable of remembering 50-60 other birds in their own flock. (Fölsch. 1996. Quoted in Organic Poultry Production. Nicolas Lampkin. 1997). This supports the traditional practice of having a maximum flock size of 50. When you realise that some organic flocks include thousands of birds, it’s not surprising that there are widespread problems of aggression. Some organisations also allow beak trimming if there is no other solution, although the Soil Association bans it. However, even their standards allow large numbers. Economic considerations have taken precedence over innate flock needs.

A Bovans Nera organic layer
(© Copyrght 2005. Katie Thear)

The small local producer

Those with very small flocks may not be able to justify the cost of organic registration, which can amount to several hundred pounds. Even if they are providing conditions that are far better than any of the recognised organic standards, they will not be able to sell their produce as ‘organic’.

The Soil Association has a scheme for several producers sharing the costs, if they are within the same area. Alternatively, the produce can be sold at the farmgate and simply not described as organic. A notice could be displayed to the effect that organic feeds are fed to the poultry and that they are kept humanely and allowed to roam outside on pasture. It will then be apparent to callers that the produce is organic in all but name.

The Wholesome Food Association is an organisation that was launched for the benefit of people who are only operating on a small scale and selling produce locally. Their principles are equivalent to, if not higher than any official organic organisation, and all members are expected to share them. There is no system of inspection, however, for as everyone is operating on a local basis, buyers who call to buy produce would soon detect if there were abuses. The association has branches in most areas of the country.

© Katie Thear 2005.

An extract taken from Organic Poultry, published by Broad Leys Publishing Ltd.

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