?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.title=Workshop+and+desk+study+to+appraise+technical+difficulties+associated+with+organic+breeder+flocks+and+organic+hatching&rft.creator=Gordon%2C+S&rft.subject=+Poultry&rft.subject=+Technology+transfer&rft.subject=+Breeding+and+genetics&rft.description=BACKGROUND++%0D%0ATo+date%2C+Regulation+(EC)+1804%2F1999+and+UKROFS+Standards+allow+conventionally+produced+day+old+chicks+up+to+three+days+of+age+to+be+brought+into+systems+of+organic+table+chicken+production.++Chicks+must+be+reared+according+to+the+rules+laid+down+in+Regulation+(EC)+1804%2F1999+and+according+to+UKROFS+Standards+for+at+least+70+days+before+the+birds+may+be+sold+as+being+organic.++The+derogation+for+organic+breeder+flocks+was+agreed+for+a+transitional+period+expiring+on+31st+December+2003.++An+extension+to+the+derogation+is+being+discussed+at+EU+level+(Article+14+Committee)+but%2C+as+an+interim+measure%2C+a+new+end+date+has+not+yet+been+published+in+the+Official+Journal.%0D%0A%0D%0AIf+chicks+are+to+be+produced+from+breeder+flocks+in+accordance+with+Regulation+(EC)+1804%2F1999+this+may+potentially+create+a+number+of+scientific+and+technical+problems.++A+series+of+workshops+and+a+literature+review+were+commissioned+by+Defra+to+provide+possible+solutions+to+these+problems.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AOBJECTIVES%0D%0A1.+To+organise+a+workshop+involving+key+representatives+of+Defra%2C+Soil+Association%2C+the+poultry+industry+(organic+and+conventional)%2C+feed+trade+and+scientific+community+and+poultry+veterinary+practitioners+in+order+to+identify+the+important+technical+problems+and+limiting+factors%2C+and+to+identify+possible+solutions.%0D%0A2.+To+address+some+of+the+perceived+technical+and+scientific+problems+by+means+of+a+review+of+the+scientific+literature.%0D%0A3.+To+convene+a+second+workshop+to+review+progress+and+to+discuss+the+findings+of+the+literature+review.++The+second+workshop+also+considered+future+research+needs+and+mechanisms+for+technology+transfer.%0D%0AThe+initial+workshop+identified++factors+likely+to+limit+the+success+of+organic+breeder+production%2C+and+therefore+of+organic+table+chicken+production.++The+priority+issues+were%3A+the+energy+balance+of+breeders+on+range%3B+supplying+protein+and+amino+acids%3B+the+future+needs+for+100%25+organic+feed+ingredients%2C+including+difficulties+in+meeting+energy+and+protein+requirements+from+organic+sources%3B+assessing+the+impact+of+diet+on+manure+nutrient+content%3B+and+health+and+disease.%0D%0AIMPLICATIONS+OF+FINDINGS%2C+FUTURE+WORK+AND+POLICY+RELEVANCE++%0D%0AThe+project+addressed+Defra%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%99s+policy+of+supporting+the+development+of+organic+poultry+production+in+the+UK.++The+work+identified+specific+difficulties+associated+with+organic+breeding+and+hatching.++Although+information+collected+through+consultation+and+literature+review%2C+provide+some+insight+into+the+technical+issues%2C+significant+information+gaps+remain.++Requirements+for+further+research+were+considered+by+workshop+participants%2C+and+their+recommendations+include%3B%0D%0A%0D%0A1.+Bioenergetics++Research+into+the+energy+balance+of+female+birds%2C+in+particular+the+effects+of+feather+cover+and+locomotion%2C+and+the+time+spent+outdoors%2C+has+a+high+priority.++The+provision+of+outdoor+shelter+is+also+worthy+of+calorimetric+investigation.%0D%0A%0D%0A2.++Nutrition++Choice+feeding+may+offer+an+approach+address+the+problems+of+energy+and+protein+balance%2C+as+related+to+the+thermal+environment.%0D%0A%0D%0A3.+Monitoring+disease+status++The+effects+of+rearing+according+to+the+organic+requirements+requires+monitoring+both+for+bird+welfare+and+public+health.%0D%0A%0D%0A4.+Nutrient+budgets++The+monitoring+of+inputs+and+outputs+in+order+to+calculate+plant+nutrient+budgets+is+required+both+on+an+individual+farm+and+local+co-operative+basis.++This+requires+data+on+manure+nutrient+content.+%0D%0A%0D%0A5.+Sex+ratios++Outdoor+systems+may+require+different+male%3Afemale+ratios.%0D%0A%0D%0A6.+Management+of+slow+growing+breeder+hybrids++This+has+not+yet+been+assessed+in+UK+outdoor+systems.++Factors+to+be+investigated+include+target+body+weights+and+variations+in+body+weight.++Flock+performances%2C+labour+costs%2C+and+optimal+flock+life+are+factors+requiring+further+investigation+before+sound+advice%2C+including+guideline+costings%2C+can+be+offered+to+producers.+%0D%0A&rft.date=2003&rft.type=Report&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F6774%2F1%2FOF0336_2174_FRP.pdf&rft.identifier=Gordon%2C+S+(2003)+Workshop+and+desk+study+to+appraise+technical+difficulties+associated+with+organic+breeder+flocks+and+organic+hatching.&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Forgprints.org%2F6774%2F