Small Poultry FlocksSmall Poultry FlocksDr. Mickey A. LatourDr. Mickey A. Latour

Purdue UniversityPurdue University

TopicsTopics

1.1. Why get into pasture poultry?Why get into pasture poultry?- To earn some additional incomeTo earn some additional income- To teach their children responsibility To teach their children responsibility

(management, husbandry, money)(management, husbandry, money)- Opportunities-niche marketsOpportunities-niche markets- Natural or Organic?Natural or Organic?

2.2. ProcessingProcessing- What are the regulations?What are the regulations?

- Federal, State, Exempt??? Federal, State, Exempt???

Selecting a Bird TypeSelecting a Bird Type

3. Determine the end point or what is the 3. Determine the end point or what is the ultimate goal for raising these birds?ultimate goal for raising these birds? First, check local and community codesFirst, check local and community codes Meat birds Meat birds LayersLayers 4H and show only4H and show only Combination of the aboveCombination of the above

HousingHousing

4. Location, Location, Location4. Location, Location, Location Be aware of codes and restrictionsBe aware of codes and restrictions Size will be determined by bird numbersSize will be determined by bird numbers Consider drainage, accessibility to electric and waterConsider drainage, accessibility to electric and water Fencing, weather needsFencing, weather needs Consider bird death disposalConsider bird death disposal Litter choicesLitter choices Feed formulation is simple and can be provided to all Feed formulation is simple and can be provided to all

producers.producers.

PoultryPoultry

Benefits of Pasture Poultry.Benefits of Pasture Poultry. There are some health claims.There are some health claims. Apparently there are some claims of added Apparently there are some claims of added

texture to the birds.texture to the birds.

PoultryPoultry

Are there feed savings with pasture Are there feed savings with pasture poultry?poultry?- No, in general birds in wide open spaces - No, in general birds in wide open spaces tend to expend more energy, so they tend to expend more energy, so they consume nearly 2X as much feed per consume nearly 2X as much feed per pound of gain.pound of gain.

PoultryPoultry

How much can you earn?How much can you earn? If you do not saturate the market, the profit If you do not saturate the market, the profit

margins are good.margins are good.

PoultryPoultry

What is the cost to get started?What is the cost to get started? Depends on a number of factors (land, Depends on a number of factors (land,

facilities, pens/designs, etc.)facilities, pens/designs, etc.)

PoultryPoultry

What about processing the bird?What about processing the bird? Most would choose to have the bird Most would choose to have the bird

processed and this has implications, i.e., processed and this has implications, i.e., inspection.inspection.

Can be done by an individual and at their Can be done by an individual and at their home, but encourage them to look at Meat home, but encourage them to look at Meat and Poultry Regulations at BOAH, see and Poultry Regulations at BOAH, see handouts.handouts.

RegulationsRegulations(http://www.in.gov/boah/(http://www.in.gov/boah/ ))

Poultry Slaughter and Processing ExemptionsPoultry Slaughter and Processing Exemptions Poultry exemption criteria fit into one of seven Poultry exemption criteria fit into one of seven

categories. Only one exemption category is allowed per categories. Only one exemption category is allowed per year. year. Acts and regulations (381.10) do not apply to:Acts and regulations (381.10) do not apply to:1. Retail dealer (Regulation 381.10.a.1)1. Retail dealer (Regulation 381.10.a.1)

Cut up products from Cut up products from inspected poultryinspected poultry done under sanitary done under sanitary conditionsconditions

Sell only to consumers in the store: [household or HRI] Sell only to consumers in the store: [household or HRI] No processing, cut up only (done on premise where sales occur)No processing, cut up only (done on premise where sales occur) At least 75% of total sales to householdsAt least 75% of total sales to households Cannot sell to distributors or retail markets or wholesalersCannot sell to distributors or retail markets or wholesalers

RegulationsRegulations

2. Personal use (Regulation 381.10a.3)2. Personal use (Regulation 381.10a.3)

Slaughtering own birds for own use in his Slaughtering own birds for own use in his household/employeeshousehold/employees

Full processing, cutting, boning allowedFull processing, cutting, boning allowed

RegulationsRegulations

3. Custom slaughtering (Regulation 3. Custom slaughtering (Regulation 381.10.a.4)381.10.a.4)

for return of poultry to owners for their exclusive for return of poultry to owners for their exclusive useuse

labeling required: (name, address and Exempt labeling required: (name, address and Exempt P.L. 90-492)P.L. 90-492)

no limit to number slaughteredno limit to number slaughtered cannot buy or sell other poultry productscannot buy or sell other poultry products product does not have to be marked “not for product does not have to be marked “not for

sale”sale”

RegulationsRegulations

(4.) Slaughtering own birds under custom (4.) Slaughtering own birds under custom exempt <20,000 birdsexempt <20,000 birds

Producer/grower) (Regulation 381.10.a.5)Producer/grower) (Regulation 381.10.a.5) Slaughter / process poultry raised on own farmSlaughter / process poultry raised on own farm Labeled Exempted-P.L.90-492Labeled Exempted-P.L.90-492 Cannot buy other poultryCannot buy other poultry Can pass through exempted birds from other Can pass through exempted birds from other

exempt operators, but cannot use for further exempt operators, but cannot use for further processing of those birdsprocessing of those birds

Full processing of own birds, boning, cuttingFull processing of own birds, boning, cutting Can sell to consumers, HRI and retail marketsCan sell to consumers, HRI and retail markets

RegulationsRegulations

(5.) Slaughtering birds directly to (5.) Slaughtering birds directly to household consumers <20,00 birdshousehold consumers <20,00 birds

Producer of other person (Regulation 381.10.a.6)Producer of other person (Regulation 381.10.a.6) Sales limited to households and HRISales limited to households and HRI No other buying or selling of poultry; pass thru of other No other buying or selling of poultry; pass thru of other

exempted birds only (no other type of pass through exempted birds only (no other type of pass through exempted product)exempted product)

Cannot sell to retail marketsCannot sell to retail markets Labeled Exempted-P.L. 90-492Labeled Exempted-P.L. 90-492

RegulationsRegulations

(6.) Small business or enterprise (6.) Small business or enterprise (Regulation 381.10.a.7) (Regulation 381.10.a.7)

Cannot process (slaughter and cut up only)Cannot process (slaughter and cut up only) Limit: 20,000 birds or 5,000 turkeys calendar Limit: 20,000 birds or 5,000 turkeys calendar

yearyear Must be fully labeledMust be fully labeled Can handle other product (ie- Federally insp. Can handle other product (ie- Federally insp.

Product)Product) Can sell to any buyerCan sell to any buyer

RegulationsRegulations

(7.) Very Small Producer (Regulation (7.) Very Small Producer (Regulation 381.10.c)381.10.c)

Provisions for Provisions for slaughtering own birdsslaughtering own birds if<1000/yr if<1000/yr directly to consumer not exceeding 750lbsdirectly to consumer not exceeding 750lbs

Also allows for Also allows for live poultry martlive poultry mart at retail store at retail store with birds processed to consumer’s instructionswith birds processed to consumer’s instructions

No sales to HRINo sales to HRI Still need local health department sanctionStill need local health department sanction

Poultry Processing Poultry Processing

Egg ComparisonsEgg Comparisons

N6:N3 ratio (recommended intake is <10:1)N6:N3 ratio (recommended intake is <10:1)

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20Kroger large eggs

Kroger large eggs

Creighton Brothers Grade A large

Family Farm Indiana

Purdue Research Farm

Egg Land's Best veggitarian feed hens

Egg Land's Best cage-free

Egg Innovations cage-free

Egg Innovations cage-free omega 3

Egg Innovations organic eggs, large brown

Fertile Eggs

Potential HousingPotential Housing

Pasture Pens Pasture Pens Chicken TractorChicken Tractor Free RangeFree Range Day RangeDay Range

HousingHousing

Multiple Functions in this Design

Potential HousingPotential Housing

Photo from http://www.plamondon.com/Norton_Creek_Farm.html

housinghousing

HousingHousing

HousingHousing

Opportunities/Major ConcernsOpportunities/Major Concerns

1.1. Processing the birdProcessing the bird

2.2. Nutrition for the birdNutrition for the bird

3.3. General husbandryGeneral husbandry

4.4. RegulationsRegulations

5.5. Establishment of an Avian Influenza planEstablishment of an Avian Influenza plan