Organic Livestock and Poultry Farming(Conclusion)
Here’s an in-depth look at the world of organic farming for both livestock and organic.
Organic farmers should promote animal well-being throughout the farm. This may be done by minimizing physical and psychological stress on the animals and reducing the incidence of disease. Also, when animals are not stressed, veterinary hills are reduced and meat tenderness is maintained.
Pain and stress relief Conventional farming practices such as castrating, marking and mulesing, if it cannot be avoided, should be kept to a minimum.
Physical alternations should be provided as needed to promote the animal’s welfare and in a manner that reduces pain and stress. Anesthetics lidocaine and procaine are allowed to be sued for pain reduction. Chlorohexidine is also allowed for surgical procedures conducted by a veterinarian, as well as a number of other topical disinfectants.
Also, stress during handling can be minimized by reducing noise and not rushing stock through gateways. Animals also experience stress when in transport going to market and during slaughter. Stress must be minimized during this period. Slaughter must be done quickly and without unnecessary stress. Animals should not be placed in an area where slaughter of other animals can be seen.
Living conditions
The farm should have living conditions for animals such that their needs for free movement, food, water, shelter and shade are provided. Also, the farmer must be aware of the animals’ specific natural behavior patterns. Living conditions that accommodate the health and natural behavior of the animals should be provided.
Ruminants such as cattle and swine should have access to pasture. Animals should also be provided access to shade and shelter, as well as exercise areas, fresh air, and direct sunlight.
The shelter should be designed to accommodate the natural maintenance, comfort behaviors, and opportunity to exercise. Animals should be provided with adequate space to be able to stand up, lie down, turn around, groom, and engage in other natural behavior. Tie stall are considered inappropriate.
Temperature level in shelters should be maintained. Ventilation, and air circulation should be suitable to the species. Equipment and facilities provided must also limit the possibility of injuries in the livestock. These should be suitable to the species, its stage of production, the climate, and the environment. Clean, dry bedding should be provided, and if the bedding can be eaten, then it is required to be organically produced.
Animals may be confined only on a temporary basis and then only in the following conditions:
1. Inclement weather
2. The animal’s stage of production
3. Conditions under which the health, safety, or well being of the animal could be put at risk
4. Risk to soil or water quality
Shade and shelter for poultry and livestock should be provided so that they are protected from excessive sunlight, extreme temperature, wind, rain, and bad weather conditions. Windbreaks and housing should also be provided. Poultry should also be protected from predator animals such as dogs.
Manure management
Along with maintaining stocking densities, grazing lands rotation, manure management is a way to sustain the resource, nourish the animals, and maintain soil and water quality.
Cleaning compounds
The materials used for disinfecting livestock facilities should be non-synthetic or they should be on the National List and consistently used with any restrictions. Currently, the only synthetic equipment and facility cleaners allowed are chlorine products such as sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, and chlorine dioxide; hydrogen peroxide, and phosphoric acid.
The business
Food safety concern is the biggest industry mover for organic products. The health trend all over the world has greatly affected the increasing demand for organic meat. Consumers are becoming more and more aware that livestock like chicken, pigs and cattle that are grown in chemical-industrial animal farming systems are also sources of chemicals harmful to health such as growth hormones, steroids, synthetic vitamins and minerals.
Compared to other countries, the Philippine organic market is still in its incubation period. However, reports indicate the demand for organic product still exceeds current local production. Exports in 2001 have been recorded to be at P 250M or US$ 6.2M. This number reached US$ IoM in 2003. The export marketability growth of the industry is estimated to be at 10% to 20% annually. Imports, however, are recorded t be at around P 150M.
The Center for International Trade and Exposition Mission (CITEM) of the Department of Trade and Industry has been hosting the BioSearch Exhibitions for the promotion of organic products every year since 1997. This endeavor allows small growers and manufacturers to display and promote their organic products.
Marketing
Quality consistency is the biggest factor affecting marketability and quality of production to maintain product integrity. Suppliers can improve product consistency by designating a number of finishing-off properties located near processors and by developing a common genetic base. To maintain product quality and supply consistency, producers are recommended to establish and maintain marketing alliances. Producers are also recommended to develop marketing specifications and pathways. This allows consumers access to a range of products and a continuous supply throughout the year.
Production and supply conduits
Before the producer starts an endeavor in this business, there are four integral questions he must first need to answer:
1. Who is the consumer?
2. What product will you sell?
3. Where is the location of the prospective market/ consumers?
4. How will the product be processed and brought to the market?
To further elaborate on conducting a successful marketing campaign, producers must also consider the following important factors:
1. Communication
Communication avenues and documentations should be developed to facilitate the marketing process. The origin of the product needs to be verifiable; therefore a system of full-traceability is important. The producer must be able to prove the organic history of the product to encourage consumer confidence in the product. This can be achieved by procuring an organic certification. The supplier and producer will also need to work hand in hand for the marketing and promotion of the product. For the marketing strategy, a professional marketing consultant may be hired. Marketing implements such as logos and labels may also be used to tell the farm’s origins and story.
2. Processing specifications
The producer must develop specifications that establish the guidelines at key points in the production. These include the farm, transport, slaughter, boning room, any further processing, packaging, distribution, treatment by the retailer/ purchaser. The producer should also consider the display of the product. Maintaining an awareness of how the product is performing at all key points is very important. Feedback sheets and surveys also provide an opportunity to gauge consumer response to the product, but can also be included at other key points in the pathway.
3. The consumer
Consumers must be willing to pay for the organic product. This tends to limit markets to health conscious, middle and upper class consumers. The producer needs to identify where the greatest demand is and what type of product will be in demand. The product needs to have purchasing appeal (packaging, presentation and the like). The producer must also work on the product’s credibility to instill product confidence to consumers. Additional information on how to handle, store and cook the product may also be included on the label. When the consumer is happy with the product, they are more likely to come back and purchase more.
4. Accreditation
Some products in the market are being passed as organic when they are not. The producer must be able to provide proof that the product’s organic status is authentic. This may be done by procuring accreditation and providing correct information on the label.
5. Added value
Added value indicates products that promote convenience for the consumer. Examples are prepared meals, pan-ready meat products, and marinated meat products. For dairy products, examples are cheeses. However, if these offerings include other ingredients, the producer should certify that these other ingredients are also organic.
By Carmela Abaygar
Popularity: 6%
Popularity: 6%
June 28th, 2010 at 3:20 am
The Ultimate Fungi Food. This product is soluble and comprises around 75% humic
acid and 12% potassium. These humates can be readily dissolved without the
dust factor associated with humate powders. The rapid solubility of these granules
facilitates a successful fusion with soluble fertilizers which is particularly important
for reducing the lock-up rate of soluble phosphate sources, stabilizing urea, chelating
and complexing elements and buffering high sodium and heavy metals. Humic acid is
a powerful fungi promotant. Beneficial fungi are the missing link in many soils.
Stabilizes nitrogen and improves nitrogen efficiency (ideal as an additive with urea).
Complexes phosphate to reduce lock-ups (ideal as an additive with DAP/MAP, etc)
.Natural chelating and complexing agent to help magnify nutrient absorption. Increase
s the permeability of cells to increase nutrient uptake.
at can enhance cell division and elongation. Can buffer the effects of excessive
elements (particularly sodium), toxic chemicals and heavy
metals. pH buffering capacity to help neutralize the problems associated with pH
extremes. Features a CEC of 450 which aids in moisture and nutrient retention.
Promotes seed germination in a shorter time. Has a nature which assists in soil
wetting. Promotes soil structure improvement by promoting fungi to create a crumb
structure for better water and oxygen intake and improved root penetration.
Microbe-friendly.
Areas of Benefit
IIncrease nutrient retention in sandy soils; Improve long-term aeration in clayey soils
.
Reduced applications over time, progressively stabilizing the organic carbon part of
soil content. Means healthier root zones, stems and leaves. Improve protein &
vitamin levels with improved shelf life. More extensive plant root systems.
Reduced water costs; less leaching.Isolates plants against excessive acidity and
alkalinity. Increased buffering capacity.
Greatly improved soil structure, nutrient reserves and uptake.
Slow release from chelated fertilizer mix and soil microbial bank.
Allows good absorption of cations so longer resident life against leach-out; better
plant utilization of added nutrients.
Natural locking-up and release of nutrients & improved balance against pests.
Leads to a reduction of the need for pesticides.
Results in darker, greener foliage rich in chlorophyll, improving ‘Brix’ levels.
Less possibly harmful effects on health
Increased cation exchange capacity More efficient water use and retention Increased
microbial activity Improved iron absorption High humus content (approx 40%)
Increased buffering against excessive acidity, alkalinity and soil excesses Nitrogen
stabilized, slow release from chelated fertilizer mix and soil microbial bank Improved
aeration and oxygen supply to aerobic zone. Longer lasting than conventional
composts.
title
Humic substances determine the structure and the fertility of the soil. They are an effective measure in solving ecological problems, such as pollution of soil and subsoil waters by chemicals used in agriculture.
The fertility of the soil was always related to its humus content. It was determined that humic substances participate in the regulation of most important characteristics. First of all, they are accountable for the coloring and, therefore, thermal conditions. It is particularly important for cold clay soil which under the effect of humates becomes warmer. Secondly, long-term humate treatment is conducive to the improvement of soil structure. When humates enter the soil, they form potassium and magnesium humates that bond mechanical element of the soil and act as organo-mineral bridges between aggregates. Thirdly, one of the important qualities of humates is their ion-exchange activity. It ensures humates’ ability to regulate the process of transformation of mineral nutrients in soil-plant system. Fourthly, humate treatment increases water saturation of soil. It is particularly important for sandy soils. Its water saturation ability increases by more than ten times after humate treatment. The same principal applies when preparations are used for melioration. Fifthly, the most important challenge of our times is restoration of the fertility of the soil in suburban zones of the industrially developed regions. Modern ecological overload makes the soil’s natural self-rectification with micro-organisms insufficient. Traditionally, organic fertilizers (manure, compost) were used to increase biological activity of the soil and to improve its self-rectification. However, in spite of high nutritious value of these products, their bond with organic mass is too close, and it decreases their assimilation. That is why these products are used in large quantities (up to 60-80 ton/hectare). Introduction of humic substances solves the problem very effectively.
humates and Chemical fertilizers
Intensive agricultural systems demand the use of large quantities of mineral fertilizers in order to supply the plants with basic micro-elements, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. In doing so, we often forget that mineral fertilizer is for plants what illegal drugs are for sportsmen – you can immediately see high results but tend to ignore the future consequences. The higher the amount of mineral fertilizer used, the more intensive is the erosion of the soil, the poorer the soil’s humus content, and the environment is more polluted. The problem of effective mineral fertilizer assimilation is central in plant-growing. The difficulty of its solution lies in the fact that water soluble potassium and nitrogen fertilizers are easily washed out of the soil, while phosphorus fertilizers, on the contrary, bond with ions of Ca, Mg, Al, and Fe that are present in soil and form inert compounds, which are inaccessible to plants. The presence of humic substances, however, substantially increases effective assimilation of all mineral nutrition elements. It was shown in the tests of barley that humate treatment (with NPK) improved its growth, development, and the crop capacity while decreasing the use of mineral fertilizer. (V. Kovalenko, M. Sonko, 1973.) The tests on wheat showed that one-way use of nitrogen fertilizers on winter wheat crops did not have a high positive effect on the crop capacity, while its use along with humates and super phosphate achieved an expected positive effect. (L. Fot, 1973.) Interestingly, the mechanism of interaction between humates and micro-elements of mineral nutrition is specific for each of them. The positive process of Nitrogen assimilation occurs due to an intensification of the ion-exchange processes, while the negative processes of “nitrate” formulation decelerates. Potassium assimilation accelerates due to a selective increase in the penetrability of cell membranes. As for phosphorus, humates bond ions of Ca, Mg, and Al first, which prevents the formation of insoluble phosphates. That is why the increase of humate content leads to an increase of the plant’s phosphorus consumption. (Lee & Bartlett, 1973.)
Therefore, the combination of humates and mineral fertilizer guarantees their effective assimilation by plants.
Humic acids form complexes naturally. For thousands of years, they accumulated vital elements. When applied, humic acids also extract these vital elements from the soil in an accessible way for plants to form. For example, iron and manganese, according to respected professor D. Orlov, are assimilated only in humic complex form. Research by A. Karpukhin showed that the presence of these complexes determine the mobility of most macro- and micro-elements and their supply and travel inside plants’ organs.
Therefore, treating vegetating plants with humates ensures their continuous nutrition with vital macro- and micro-elements.
Comprehensive proof can be obtained through many years of experiments. Naturally, we do not have this data yet. We have mentioned earlier that one of the most important factors in humus composition and accumulation is the effect of micro-organisms. Scientific studies in many countries showed that humates stimulated the development of all soil micro-organisms, such as fungi, bacteria, and ray fungi (actinomycetes). They increased soil’ aeration and were conducive to stimulation of oxidation activity of microbes. In other words, humates stimulate micro-organisms and therefore are conducive to humus restoration.
THE EFFECTS OF HUMATES ON CROPS
Why do humates stimulate growth and plant development? In this chapter I shall try to answer the question: How does this happen? On one level, experience of Humates usage has a 50-year history and during that time a huge amount of practical material has been accumulated, but on another level, the new technology relative to the Humates production, characterizes a new stage of development. Today we have evidence that this new technology allows us to not only decrease production costs, but to produce a new high quality product. Firstly, let us consider the 50-year experience of Humate usage, based on brown coal and peat, then consider and analyze content and quality of humates and the results of their usage.
Long-term experience in the use of humates in Russia has shown that their presence is important during all stages of plants’ development but particularly vital in the early stages. That is why the pre-planting treatment of seeds is very important. Even before germination begins, vital forces are awakened, and the immune system is stimulated. A young sprout develops a strong root system, and its endurance increases. Intensification of the root system growth was studied on barley.
The treatment of seeds is particularly important for potatoes. Soaking the potato tubers in the humate solution prior to planting is practically the only necessary operation in treatment of potatoes, especially since spraying the vegetating potato plants can lead to growth of the over-ground parts of the plant at the expense of the tubers’ development. As you will observe in the following photograph, the treatment of the tubers prior to planting results in an increase of quantity and vigor of the shoots.
Naturally, the strengthening of the root system and stems has a positive effect on crops. As plants develop, however, other factors are involved. A strong, developed root system provides plants with the necessary nutrients of a higher quality. Because they are already a part of a certain organic structure, the humates’ chelate complexes with microelements can penetrate into the cell more easily than ordinary ions. The humates increase the penetrability of a cell membrane and, as a result, are conducive to potassium retention in intra-cell fluid, which leads to the increase of cell division. Due to the additional energy supply, a photosynthesis process in the cells proceeds more intensively, leading to an increased amount of chlorophyll. A determining factor in plants’ growth, nitrogen assimilation proceeds more rapidly, and nitrate formation is averted. All together, it leads to an increase in crop capacity. Throughout a long-term history of humate use at the experimental fields, plots, greenhouses, and gardens a lot of data has been collected and published. In mean form, these results are presented in the following diagram.mportant data in humate use in floriculture was also published. The root and non-root treatment of arboreal plants (such as Crimean pine), shrubs (three types of roses), and lianas by the ammonium humate was tested at the Donetsk botanical gardens. (Science Academy of Ukraine.) The increase in growth of these plants, particularly of roses and lianas, by the end of vegetation reached 1.3-2 times, compared with the control group. In 1990-1992, humates were used for treatment of roses, tulips, hydrangea cuttings, and socotra, as well as for singling of plants. In all cases, the flowering accelerated by 5-10 days, while the amount and size of the buds and their stamina improved. Other research proved the effectiveness of humate use in ornamental gardening. please contact maritess alaba Distributor SG002151, mobile # 0929-7308291, 09326362878