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Poultry |
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The
market for poultry and eggs currently presents many novelties: from
the breeding in coops or cages, in which the birds are totally
confined, some farms are now using open spaces to produce breeds of
rougher laying hens (therefore more resistant to illnesses), something
as the traditional "caipira" system of producing eggs (the
system of our grandparents). Today the consumer may choose between
white eggs, red eggs and even eggs for those who are controlling their
levels of cholesterol.
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The
egg-laying in nests |
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Nevertheless,
not always these innovations reach some fundamental aspects of a
healthier production of meat and eggs. Most producers still depend on
the intensive use of hormones, antibiotics and industrialized rations to
conduct their business, which hardly allows for a really healthy final
product. |
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On
the other hand, the farmer who wishes to produce in a more balanced
system, with more natural alternatives for poultry nutrition and the
control of its diseases, Agroecology presents itself as the ideal
option. Among others, we stress the following general principles of
agroecological production: the choice of breeds according to their
adaptation to local conditions, the respect for the animal’s natural
behavior and the search for technical solutions within the property.
Other common practices of organic handling should be added: the
rotation of fodder varieties, the organic fertilization of the soil,
the treatment of diseases with medicinal herbs, according with
homeopathic precepts, and the integration of animal breeding with
other activities such as the fertilization of vegetable-gardens with
animal manure. |
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It is
also important that, in the organic production system, the birds have
a "grazing" area available to them, with nutritional species
and with enough space for scratching the earth, eat worms and
generally behave in accordance with their own nature. Another
important factor would be the easy access to water and shade in order
to avoid their stress. We should also point out that, as in the
"caipira" system, the chicken enjoy the company of roosters,
which produce eggs that are "galados", i.e., impregnated. |
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This
system, which provides the animals with well-being and a varied diet,
will have its reflexes on the eggs, which will have bigger contents of
vitamin A and proteins. As to the chicken meat, the gastronomic
pleasure will be supplanted by the knowledge that it was produced by
rations and innocuous medicines, exempt from anabolic substances. The
soul is assuaged in knowing that the body is being well treated.
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