Ag Insight: The downside to backyard poultry production

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Toronto City Council has been asked to approve backyard poultry operations in the city. But, argues this livestock specialist, this could lead to lower product quality and pose health concerns for the public at large

by JIM DALRYMPLE

A recent request from a group of Toronto citizens to Toronto City Council could bring about dramatic changes in poultry production in Ontario. A petition has been circulated asking that the Toronto Municipal Code be changed approve "backyard" chicken production in the city.

Other urban areas have made changes to by-laws to promote the local food concept or are contemplating them. This may be advantageous for most fruits, vegetables and some other production practices in Ontario, but it is unlikely to be successful for poultry and livestock production in cities.

Over the past half century, poultry production has been concentrated in the hands of a decreasing number of producers. Egg grading standards were introduced in 1918. Today,
to achieve quality control of both eggs and poultry meat, the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Program (HACCP) has been developed. In this system, producers identify critical points in the program for analysis to ensure quality before the product goes to market.

Major advances have been made in production efficiency.

1.    Production per laying hen per year has increased from 50 eggs in 1900 to more than 300 eggs in 2007.

2.    Broilers and turkeys require about 40 per cent less water to reach market weight compared to 40 years ago.

3.    Major diseases which decimated poultry flocks have been all but eliminated through vaccinations, biosecurity and advances in nutrition.

4.    The manure produced per dozen eggs has been cut by 50 per cent as a result of improved growth rates and feed efficiencies.

5.    The feed required per kilogram of broiler meat produced now is less than one half that required 50 years ago. Similar improvements have occurred in egg production.
The petition put forward by Toronto citizens points to a number of benefits from raising hens in the City of Toronto.
• Backyard chickens provide fresh, healthy, delicious eggs free of pesticides and antibiotics.
• Chickens eat table scraps, reducing municipal solid waste.
• Chickens produce a rich fertilizer by-product, high in nitrogen, eliminating the need for petrochemical fertilizers.
• Raising chickens helps teach children where our food comes from and demonstrates responsible pet ownership.
• Chickens make great pets and are people-friendly.
• Chickens eat bugs, reducing our backyard pest population.

For their part, poultry products produced by Ontario's farmers are of high quality and are produced under Codes of Practice, utilizing veterinarians where necessary. They adhere to Nutrient Management Act regulations and follow National Research Council feed recommendations.

Current egg prices in many retail stores provide high-quality, conventionally produced eggs at under $2 per dozen. Omega 3-enriched eggs are priced at just over $3 per dozen and organic "free-run" or free-range" eggs are close to $6 per dozen. Free-range eggs are purported to be free of animal-based feed ingredients, yet free-range chickens can consume worms, grubs from the ground, flying insects and other products of unknown origin.

Poultry producers follow specific guidelines for disposal of dead birds, something that would be costly and difficult for health authorities to control in small city backyard flocks.
Nutrient guidelines, adopted in commercial feeds provide the necessary nutrients for birds from birth and throughout their production cycle, something that is not practical with the feeding of table scraps.

Biosecurity. The intensive poultry production systems which comprise the majority of both egg and meat production in North America utilize production practices designed to provide the consumer with high-quality, healthy, nutritious products. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently commended the major producing countries on their production practices and expressed concern about the backyard chicken production which occurs in many Asian countries. These countries are now deeply concerned with Avian Influenza.

Avian Influenza. Bird flu or Avian Influenza is caused by a virus and is present in droppings, respiratory secretions and the blood of infected birds. Human beings may be accidentally infected.

In Asian countries, many infections have occurred when children have been playing around sick or dying chickens. Human cases have been reported from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand. In many of these countries, chickens are almost considered pets, roam the backyards and vegetable gardens, have exposure to other animals including pets, and even have access to houses.

A WHO report advises to "always keep chickens roofed in" so that they do not come in contact with wild or migratory birds.

Ontario's migratory bird population. Over the past few decades, Ontario has seen an enormous increase in Canada geese. In fact, there are more now than at any time in history. According to winter counts, there were few, if any, Canada geese in urban areas in the winter in the 1960s. In 2007, it was reported that there were over 160,000 geese in Ontario over the winter. Health authorities indicate that public health is a concern.

Ontario is concerned with problems such as SARS, West Nile virus and other health problems, and an Avian Influenza epidemic does not need to be added to health issues.

Although large-scale farm operations may be of some concern to urban residents, an abundance of backyard poultry flocks can lower the quality of poultry products and create many health concerns for the Ontario public. BF

J.R. (Jim) Dalrymple, P.Ag., CAC, is a former Ontario government swine specialist and owner of Livestock Technology Services in Brighton.