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Colourful debeaking debate
Look for RSPCA Approved certification on the pack.
Choosing RSPCA Approved chicken
MANY Australians know that if they choose to buy fresh chicken, and care about animal welfare, they should look for the RSPCA Approved certification on the pack.
variety of products from ready-made meals to stock and even pet food are now made with RSP- CA Approved chicken. Pre-made sandwiches with RSPCA Approved chicken
been working hard to not only have RSPCA Ap- proved chicken across all their own-brand fresh products, but also where chicken is used as an in- gredient – showing that their farm animal wel- fare commitments aren’t only for the fresh-meat aisle.
the-go meals, you can make a real difference by choosing products with the RSPCA Approved certification.
But what they may not know is all the other types of products where RSPCA Approved chick- en is used!
Coles, Coles Express, Starbucks and Wool- worths source RSPCA Approved chicken for their pre-made sandwich- es, giving consumers a higher welfare choice when they’re on the go and looking for that quick takeaway lunch. RSPCA Approved chicken stock
Pet food
The RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme has recently celebrated its twenty-fifthbirthday,and we’re proud that in that time it has grown to be- come Australia’s leading independent certification scheme with a focus on animal welfare.
Meat chickens on RSP- CA Approved farms are provided with an envi- ronment that leads to bet- ter welfare by providing them with enrichment that allows their natural behaviours, good light- ing periods that encour- age them to be active, and proper dark periods for rest.
We’re a nation of pet lovers, with over 29 mil- lion pets in Australia.
To achieve the RSPCA Approved certification, not only do these farms need to meet RSPCA standards, but they must also undergo our robust assessment and certifi- cation process, which means farms are assessed two to four times a year.
That means that if you’re cooking with chicken stock, it’s easy to make a higher welfare choice.
Open Paddock sourc- es RSPCA Approved chicken and turkey for their range of dog and cat products.
Our focus is on the wel- fare of animals on-farm in Australia and, whether it’s the meat aisle at the supermarket, pre-made sandwiches, stock, ready meals, or pet food, you can make a real differ- ence by choosing prod- ucts with the RSPCA Ap- provedcertification.
While when most peo- ple think of RSPCA Approved chicken, they probably think of the meat aisle in their local supermarket, though a
If you’re buying ready- made meals in the su- permarket with chicken as an ingredient, you can look for the RSPCA Ap- proved certification in Coles and Woolworths.
Whether it’s the meat aisle at the supermarket or for those quick on-
Campbell’s sources RSPCA Approved chicken for its range of Real Stock Chicken, Real Stock Malaysian Laksa Base and Real Stock Thai Noodle Soup Base.
Many pet owners care about how the food they put in their own basket was produced and the same goes for the food they buy for their pets.
We’re focussed not only on raising the bar for farm animal welfare by continuously review- ing our standards in line with animal welfare science, but also about giving consumers more ways they can support higher welfare farm- ing and encouraging more farms and brands to become RSPCA Ap- proved.
Ready meals
Both ranges are avail- able in Woolworths na- tionally and are third- party certified to meet the Australian Standard – AS5812 Manufactur- ing and Marketing of Pet Food.
Both retailers have
Highgate sources RSP- CA Approved chicken for its range of pet sup- plement food.
From then to now
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starts at 50 percent and is gradually decreased in small increments, bring- ing it down to 30 percent by the time the birds come into lay.
Mr Davies said.
This performance far ex-
tems – ahead of the birds’ arrival to avoid any distur- bance due to equipment problems in the first few days.
This helps maintain calm behaviours.
Part of the plan to switch to white birds was research showing white birds were generally har- dier and easier to maintain than brown hens.
Once pullets are settled, managers can gradually acclimatise birds to the machinery noises and movements inside the shed, thus helping avoid stress triggers at the cru- cial time when they start laying.
“The switch to white birds for the second flock reduced the management requirements from the egg production side of the business, as we can keep the flocks going for longer between turnovers,” Mr Davies said.
That has contributed to the sustained level of egg production and greater longevity.
“Though initially ap- prehensive about keeping fully beaked birds with enrichment, consistent routines and attention to detail in the lighting in the shed, we’ve found them to be consistently calm and easy to manage.”
The Davies plan to keep the current flock to 93 weeks, which compares well with the industry standard for brown birds of a 76-week cycle.
Mr Turner also advises tailoring nutrition needs and feeding times to the requirements of fully beaked birds.
Enrichment is important in fully beaked setups be- cause it allows birds to express natural behaviour traits.
Three consecutive flocks means there has been about 51 extra weeks of production.
This can drive feed con- sumption figures up due to increased waste, as feed ends up beneath the tracks.
Providing this outlet for activity reduces the likeli- hood of feather pecking.
While beak-trimming was introduced to re- duce the effect on victim birds, a move back to fully beaked flocks carries an increased risk of the issue developing into injurious pecking.
“Getting a good consist- ency of mash to reduce sorting behaviour can therefore control feed costs,” Mr Turner said.
The Davies provide a mix of plastic bottles, con- tainers and lucerne bales within the shed.
Another strategy to cut waste is feed little and often, thus reducing the amount of feed present.
These objects are heav- ily used on arrival but as the flocks settle in, inter- est wanes and they are used less.
With stress an influenc- ing trigger for the behav- iour, strategies to mini- mise stress in the environ- ment are essential.
Some research has shown that feather peck- ing can be triggered by a lack of fibre in the diet, rather than a stress re- sponse.
Monitoring, along with the resulting ration tweaks, have helped op- timise weight gain and egg size throughout a far longer lay than was seen with brown birds.
Wynnstay agricultural consultant Jim Turner ad- vises flock-keepers such as the Davies to introduce processes that will limit stress before pullets even arrive on-farm.
Birds pick at the feathers to replace the lack of fibre. A good indicator of this is the sudden absence of loose feathers in the cor-
“Our current flock are achieving 89 percent egg production at 81 weeks,”
He recommends test- ing all equipment – fans, lights and computer sys-
bre additives can be in- troduced to reduce the behaviour,” Mr Turner concluded.
ceeds the average for the breed of 83.8 percent.
The extra 17 weeks of production at viable egg production levels means turnover cost savings are equivalent to an entire new flock after three cy- cles.
With full beaks, birds are more equipped to flick feed around, selecting morsels they want.
ners of the shed.
“If this is the case, fi-
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National Poultry Newspaper, May 2022 – Page 5