Research - Posters A Deep Litter System for Natural Chicken Production
Published: 2019-11-20
Noah Elhardt - Beersheba Project, Senegal
The modern poultry industry has made huge strides in the efficiency and productivity of chicken operations, with hybrid broiler chickens reaching 2.26 kg (5lbs) in as little as 5 weeks. To achieve this, genetics, temperature, humidity, light, biosecurity, and nutrients are all meticulously controlled, while potential diseases are kept at bay with antibiotics. These operations can be very profitable, but also smell bad and carry significant environmental and health risks.
For many small scale farmers, the environmental control necessary for success with these types of operations is unattainable. In Senegal, small flocks are routinely wiped out by disease, heat stress, or other factors. Here we present an alternative system originating in Korea.