Novel range cover options within an organic rotational system
In a rapid response to consumer demand, many farmers established commercial free-range laying hen units using existing open field ranges with little or no enhancement. Encouraging as many hens out to range is one of the most important protective factors to reduce injurious feather pecking. As a prey species descended from jungle fowl hens require the shelter and protection of tree canopy to encourage confident and extensive use of the range. In recent years, agricultural development programmes have invested considerable funding and resource to promote the adoption of tree planting across free ranges. Although an established tree canopy provides the optimal environment to facilitate and maximise foraging behaviour, many farmers are without liberty to plant trees due to their permanency which can conflict with tenancy agreements, mixed farm rotation or multiple land uses. This comes at odds with standards which require 5% natural range cover on free range and organic laying hen flocks, and is a barrier to further action. This technical note describes the use of a novel cover crop such as Jerusalem artichokes to provide natural range cover and foraging opportunities as a simple practical solution to this problem.
Descrizione dettagliata
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Informazioni sul contributo
- Posizione
- United Kingdom
- Europe
- Autori del contributo
- Jessica Elizabeth Stokes
- Scopo
- Education/Training
- Dissemination
- Tipo di file
- Document
- Dimensione del file
- 826 kB
- Pubblicato su
- 17-08-2017
- Lingua d'origine
- English
- Sito web ufficiale del progetto
- –
- Licenza
- CC BY
- Parole chiave
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