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Optimal Breeds and Nutrition for Pastured Meat Birds: A Comprehensive Guide

This presentation delves into essential characteristics of pastured meat birds, focusing on ideal breed selections like Cornish Cross and Label Rouge, highlighting their feed conversion rates, foraging instincts, and hardiness. It emphasizes the nutritional needs of broilers, including protein requirements and the importance of a balanced diet to prevent health issues. Practical advice on feeding strategies, storage, and financial implications of feed management is provided, along with resources for further reading on sustainable poultry production.

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Optimal Breeds and Nutrition for Pastured Meat Birds: A Comprehensive Guide

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  1. Pastured Meatbirds: Breeds & Nutrition Funding for this presentation was provided by USDA's Outreach and Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (OASDFR) program (Project number 2009-00705), part of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and Risk Management Agency (Award # 11-IE-53102-037)

  2. Ideal Pasture Broiler Characteristics • Good Feed Conversion • 3-4:1 vs. 6-10+:1 • Strong Foraging Instincts • Short Grow-out • 8-9 wks (average) • Hardy on Pasture • Well Feathered • Energetic • Marketable Carcass • Good Breast Ratio • Clean Feathered (no staining)

  3. Breed Selection Cornish Cross (CX) Label Rouge Genetics

  4. Cornish Cross I’m 4 weeks old! • Global Standard • Very Efficient • 3:1 on Pasture • Feed Conversion = $$$ • Readily Available • Most common breed • 4.5lbs carcass @ 8 wks • Variety very important • Cobb 506, Ross 700, etc

  5. Cornish Cross Considerations • Not the “Ideal” breed for pasture • Bred for Controlled environments • Older varieties are best • Cobb 500 or Ross 308 • Still retain foraging instincts • Familiar & Breastmeat • Need a Balanced Ration • Avoid Leg/Heart Problems • High Heat is Deadly (esp. w/ humidity)

  6. Label Rouge Genetics • Originated w/ French Free-Range Program • Different Lines • Freedom/Red Rangers • Rosambros & Others • Slower Grow Out • 4-5 lbs @ 9-11 wks • High Feed Conversion • Designed for Pasture • Fewer Health problems • Good Forager/Marketing

  7. Meatbird Nutrition • Broilers have specific feed needs • High Protein (Methionine) • Higher as chicks, lower at end • 22 - 19% Protein • Most food comes from feed • Pasture = 0 – 20 % of ration • Poultry aren’t ruminants! • Need supplemental feed

  8. Inexpensive Homemade Feeder

  9. Feeding • Poultry Eating = Meat • Feed Conversion Important • Can’t starve birds into profitability • Lots of feeder space • 4 in/bird if straight, less if round • Weather affects amount eaten • More in Cold = warmth • Won’t eat in heat = less growth and profits • Leg Problems = Feed Problem

  10. Example – Cutting Profits by Cutting Feed • Flock eats 400 lbs/wk ($.25/lb) - $100/wk • 3:1 FCR, whole birds sells for $3.75/lb • 400 lbs feed = 130 lbs chicken = 100 lbs meat • 100 lbs meat = $375 • Restrict feed ¼ = 300 lbs feed/wk = $75 in feed • 100 lbs chicken = 75 lbs meat = $280 meat Saving $25 dollars in feed cost you $100 profit!

  11. Feed Storage • Feed Storage • Must be kept dry • Rodents • Salmonella • Feed goes bad/stale • Moisture & heat • Age • Buying Bulk = Cheaper Price • Delivery • Can purchase used feed bins • Can store in barrels in field

  12. Resources • Organizations • ATTRA – the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service – http://www.attra.org • American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA) http://www.apppa.org/ • Magazines • GRIT! – APPPA Magazine • ATTRA Publications • Pastured Poultry Nutrition • Meat Chicken Breeds for Pastured Production • Books • APPPA. 2006. Raising Poultry on Pasture – Ten Years of Success. 246 p.

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