AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

From Smallstock in Development

Free Range or Free to Range
There is a big difference between the term "Free Range", and the concept of a bird that is free to range within its environment. The term "Free Range" although widely used and generally accepted is actually very misleading, and in most European countries for example, has a specific set of recommended minimum criteria. The birds are not actually free to range. To complicate this even further there is another category called "Traditional Free Range".

A study by Dawkins et al. (2003) found that chickens prefer ranging areas with trees, they avoid bright sun and that, within their paddocks, they either stay close to the house or they seek tree cover. This is hardly surprising in view of the fact that domestic birds are descended from red jungle fowl, which inhabit the dry forests of southeast Asia and are also known as "bamboo fowl". A wide open field without any cover is not a preferred habitat. This has important implications for the design of free-range poultry systems and makes it clear that tree cover is something that should be provided to encourage ranging. A fruit orchard, for example, would be an ideal ranging area. The forests where jungle fowl occur frequently consist of thick clumps of bamboo separated by small clearings, so that the birds can see the approach of predators but are rarely far from cover into which they disappear at the sign of danger.

Free Range

A label of "Free Range" on an egg or poultry meat product is a specific marketing term indicating that the product has been produced in compliance with the criteria set-out in the respective marketing regulations. In the UK, and elsewhere in the EU for example, a product described a as Free Range egg must comply with basic management criteria providing the birds with a maximum stocking density inside the poultry house (9 per m²), as well as a stated feeder space per bird (10 cm of feeder/bird) and drinker space per bird (one drinker/10 birds). In addition birds must have continuous daytime access to open runs which are mainly covered with vegetation and with a maximum stocking density of 2,500 birds per hectare. There are also specific requirements in terms of the age at slaughter.

Optionally, producers may make further provision for the birds, which will in turn lead to a tastier product, grown in a less intensive, more welfare-friendly way. Traditional Free Range requirements differ from Free Range by requiring more extensive open-air access, a lower stocking density, and a greater minimum age at slaughter. Free Range - Total Freedom has similar requirements, but birds must have unrestricted day-time open-air access.

Traditional Free Range

Traditional free-range typically involves smaller flocks than Free Range and these are often kept in moveable houses. Their position is changed on a regular basis, often daily, so that the birds have access to a more or less constant supply of fresh green vegetation, with some insects, worms and other natural food. This is similar to systems in North America called Range Poultry, or Pasture Poultry.

From a production viewpoint, the reasons for providing pasture to the birds are to:

obtain feed from the pasture (young growing vegetation, insects, worms, etc.)
to improve land fertility (e.g. for subsequent grazing by ruminants)
to improve bird health
to improve the general welfare of the birds
and to provide products for specific markets (normally fetching a higher price).
Poultry obtain nutrients from young, vegetative forage plants. This results, for example, in eggs with a deep yellow colour. Poultry on pasture also forage for seeds and live protein such as worms and insects. Larger chickens will even catch and eat small rodents and lizards if given the chance.

Extensive range poultry production requires a more land and is usually part of a diversified operation with ruminant and this mixed husbandry can be very important in range poultry production. Soil fertility is a major motivation and producers are able to take advantage of the poultry manure to improve their pastures for ruminants.

Free to Range

Poultry that are actually free to range, tend to be the village poultry, or scavenging poultry, kept by smallholders and households in tropical areas. Smallholders in Europe and North America may also keep poultry that are in effect free to range over considerable areas. It has been estimated that 80% of the poultry population in Africa is found in these traditional production systems, sometimes called low input/output systems. Little attention is given to this means of production by authorities and many development programmes even though between 30% to 100% of the animal protein consumed is from this source. These low input/output systems have been a traditional component of small farms all over the developing world for centuries and is likely to continue as such in the future.

The flocks are small in size but are an important asset providing their owners with meat and eggs that can be consumed by the family. They are also bartered or sold to provide additional income, and may also be used to fulfil social obligations. Rural poultry provide manure, whilst they are active in pest control. In many countries the birds are owned and managed by women and children.

What are you thoughts on all this

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