ProductionProduction IssuesIssues

Feed Issues

• Optimal health

• Optimal growth

• Different formulations for standard poultry breeds and industrial strains

• Different formulations for grow-out, maintenance, breeder, and layer

Feed Issues

• All vegetarian feed

• Custom milling

• Inventory management

• Delivery to farmers

Animal Welfare

• Deep personal commitment– fitting animal welfare with food production

• Why did I choose to work with AWI?

• What are my obligations?

• Benefits?

• Downsides?

Pasture Production

• What is pasture-reared– According to USDA– According to Frank Reese, Jr.

• Why is this important?– Fitting production system with the breed– Animal welfare– Selection for outdoor heartiness and disease resistance– Human health

Pasture Production

• Benefits?– More humane– Sunlight– Diverse diet– Selects for healthy immune systems

• Downsides?– More exposure to disease– Predators– Escapees

Pasture management

Environmental stewardship

Days to Market

• Heritage Turkeys = 24 – 28 weeks

Days to Market

Barred Plymouth Rock and Dark Cornish chickens= 15 – 16 weeks for males= 16 – 18 weeks for females

Days to Market

• Jersey Giant Chicken– 24-28 weeks to

market

– Large roasting chicken

Days to Market

• Aylesbury & Rouen Ducks– 18 – 28 week– Hatch March, April, May– Process Oct 1, then every 2 weeks until

done– Best if processed after killing freeze

Days to Market

• Dewlap Toulouse & Emden Geese– 32-36 weeks– Hatch April – May– Process early December

GSTR Grower RulesFor Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks and Geese

1. All the birds are true heritage birds and are certified by a American Poultry Association licensed judge to meet the Standards of Perfection.

2. All birds are raised by a single family farm.

3. All birds are allowed to run free on green pastures, this is both grower birds and breeder birds.

4. All birds are fed an all vegetable diet. No animal by-products.

GSTR Grower RulesFor Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks and Geese

5. All birds are tested for antibiotics and pesticides before butchering.

6. All grower and breeder birds shall have roost and no bird should have to sleep on the ground.

7. All birds we have access to shelter to protect from weather.

8. All farms shall be visited by Good Shepherd Ranch at least once if not twice a year.

9. All farmers shall be members of National Poultry Improvement Programs (NPIP).

GSTR Grower RulesFor Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks and Geese

10. All farmers will feed the proper feed formula, that is for the type of poultry they raise. The formula will be designed for them by GSTR.

11. Farmers may not at anytime bring in outside birds to their farm without permission from GSTR.

12. Farmers must have a plan if disease shows up on the farm and let GSTR know at once.

13. All poultry is to be respected and treated humanely.

GSTR Grower RulesFor Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks and Geese

14. When loading or moving birds for any reason the birds are to be moved with care and not over crowded.

15. No birds are to EVER have their beaks cut, wings clipped or toe nails removed.

16. No artificial insemination of any kind will ever be used on the breeding farms.

17. No sexing of birds by vent method.

18. No shipping of live chicks, ducklings, goslings or poults through the mail.

GSTR Grower RulesFor Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks and Geese

19. Killing of sick or damaged birds shall be done quickly and with humane treatment.

20. Anyone not following the rules of GSTR can have all of their birds taken from them at any time by GSTR.

  Additional rules apply to breeder farms.    Oct. 19th 2005

Quality Control

• What do quality birds from farmer look like?

• Who makes this call?

• What happens if quality isn’t met?

• How is this addressed?

• How is this handled to prevent fracturing relationships?

Calculating Losses

In confinement (assuming excellent husbandry)• Industrial Corn X Rock = 10% • Industrial Broad Breasted Turkeys = 10%

On pasture (assuming excellent husbandry)• GSTR Barred Plymouth Rock = 2% • GSTR Dark Cornish = 2%• Heritage Turkeys = 10%• Industrial Broad Breasted Turkeys = 15%+

Motivation

• Why do farmers want to work with GSTR?– Enjoy these birds – active, pretty

Light Brahma Cock

White Laced Red Cornish

History with standard breeds and varieties

Experience with free-ranging

To honor an ancestor or mentor

Motivation

• Care about conservation & biodiversity

• Remember the flavor from childhood

• Want to see these breeds doing the jobs they were bred for.

Barred Plymouth Rock Cock