Improved health and quality in Italian organic chicken

摘要

Italian researchers observed that the main characteristics related to organic poultry production had a positive influence on health state, performance and meat quality of chickens. They conclude that this kind of rearing can be seen as an alternativeto the conventional way of growing broilers. In recent years the demand for organic products and for added values like biodiversity, protection of nature and ani-Imals has increased. A number of studies confirm that many people are confident that organicfood is healthier than conventionally produced foods as they are produced in a more environmentally compatible manner. Italian researchers studied the feasibility of organic meat chicken farming and specifically looked at animal health, bird performanceand meat quality. They housed 12,000 Kabir chickens in an indoor pen of 450 m2 with exit/entry holes, connecting to an open-air run of 10,000 m2 covered with vegetation. The production unit, located in Umbria, central Italy, was equipped with infrared lamp systems, in order to maintain an appropriate temperature (30 °C) during the first days of the birds' life.