Whole-grain free-choice feeding of organic laying hens on pasture at UBC Farm

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2 Whole-grain free-choice feeding of organic laying hens on pasture at UBC Farm Jacob Slosberg, Field Research Coordinator, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems at UBC Farm Darin Bennett, Assistant Professor, Avian Research Centre, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, UBC

3 Overview: Current Status Quo Project Aim Methods Results Opportunities Challenges Further Research Related Research

4 Status Quo: Laying hens fed a mixed ration diet Some farmers also offer scratch, veggie scraps, or supplemental grains Diet optimized for life stage Starter Grower Layer Mature

5 Status Quo: Does not allow for change in diet based upon environmental factors Does not allow use of local inputs without milling or mixing Relies upon commodity grain with highly variable price

6 Aim: To evaluate hens ability to regulate their own diet for bird health, egg production, and egg quality. Identify ways to lower feed costs for producers Contribute to resilient local food system Two year project 2011: Experimental Design 2012: Data Collection

7 Methods: Two control pens, two treatment pens, 20 hens each, on pasture. Control pens: Mixed ration 16% protein layer mash Treatment pens: One trough of whole hard spring wheat, one trough of 35% protein concentrate + vitamin premix

8 Feeders: Kuhn RF-50 20kg Capacity Rain Hat Anti-waste grill Treatment feeders had divider installed

9 Year 1:

10 Year 1:

11 Year 2:

12 Results No difference in body weight Hens consuming Free-Choice diet ate more Grain intake varied, but consumption of protein mix relatively constant Hens consuming Free-Choice diet laid more eggs No difference in feed efficiency Hens consuming Free-Choice diet laid eggs with darker yolks

13 Results: Production Rate (% of egg laid per day per hen) Free-Choice (80.6 ± 1.6 %) Mixed Ration (73.8 ± 2.5 %) Feed efficiency (amount of feed required to produce 1 g of egg) averaged 2.83 ± 0.10g feed/g egg.

14 Results: Economics Value Generated: $6/doz at UBC Farm Mixed Ration: $0.369/hen/day Free-Choice: $0.403/hen/day Feed Value: Organic Feed Costs in Fraser Valley February 2013 Mixed Ration: $0.126/hen/day Free-Choice $0.114/hen/day Free-Choice diet costs $0.012 less per hen/day

15 Results: Economics Net effect (gross revenue feed cost) Free-Choice $0.277/hen/day Mixed Ration $0.255/hen/day For a flock of 100 hens, this difference represents an additional $803/year of gross revenue, or an additional 8.6% revenue. $0.022*100 hens*365 days

16 Opportunities Trial suggests hens can regulate their own diet given two choices Mixing not required Milling not required

17 Opportunities: Local Grains Supports local producers Allows direct marketing for grains, providing grower with better price Promotes incorporation of grains into crop rotation, including creative cropping like underseeded clover Added habit value of grain crops Limits flockholders exposure to fluctuating grain prices

18 Challenges Local grain infrastructure Protein concentrate availability Affordable small-scale weather/rodentproof grain storage for flock holders

19 Year 3 We hope to run this trial again in 2013 Three replicates instead of two Possible incorporation of local grains Added trough for supplemental calcium Added egg nutrition quality evaluation

20 Future Questions: Ability to regulate diet with changes to feedstuffs Free-Choice feeding for broilers Free-Choice in pasture vs. other commercial systems

21 Related Research Regionally Suitable Grain Cultivars and Culture for the Pacific Northwest Dr. Art Bomke UBC Dr. Stephen Jones WSU Mt. Vernon Local Alternative Protein Sources (Dr. James Hermes, OSU) Camilina Alfalfa Dry Beans and Lentils Field Peas Insects including Black Solider Fly larva

22 Summary: Mash vs. Free-Choice = No change in feed efficiency Some economic benefit, dependent on scale and commodity prices Opportunity to build local grain community through Free-Choice (economic and agronomic benefits for grain growers) Some logistical challenges remain

23 Thanks You OSDP Delta Farmers Institute UBC Farm In Season Farms Farmers