- Jun 10, 2014
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MotherEarthNews is simply not a credible news source - they're an agenda driven organization, and they don't understand basic scientific principles. There's a reason none of their actual results are published - they don't hold up to scrutiny. That article for instance - compares their own testing data (which they won't reveal the actual numbers) for free range pastured birds, to the USDAs numbers for battery birds. There's no indication on whether they're using the same measurement methods, testing in the same manner, etc. Like most of their stands, they're conflating several issues at once - and not keeping things straight.
Home eggs are fresher - I don't think there's any debate on that. Beyond that though, egg nutrition is largely genetic, and somewhat influenced by the birds diet - pastured eggs are healthier than battery eggs - but you can buy pastured eggs at every supermarket nowadays. Birds that eat predominately layer food, and are generally confined, are going to produce eggs of similar nutrient profile - whether they're raised on a factory farm, or in the 10x12 run in someone's backyard. Birds that are out foraging are going to produce eggs dependent on what they catch, whether that's in a 200,000 acre commercial ranch, or in my 5 or so acres of pastures.
There are plenty of reasons to raise backyard birds - but egg nutrition really isn't one of them. (Ethical reasons, love of animals, etc) - And I say this as someone who sells duck, goose, and chicken eggs out of his backyard - I'd rather have my eggs bought for what they actually are, then lie to my customers. People want to buy more humanely raised eggs/dairy/meat these days - there's no reason to mislead them.
Here's another MEN article on chickens - see how many logical leaps the author makes?
http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/eat-white-chicken-eggs.aspx#axzz3JdjdLQeO
He starts out by telling people they need to eat white eggs because white layers convert food better (true), then gets squicked out and decides people should get heritage birds because you don't have to kill the roosters. He comes to this entire conclusion based on one companies numbers for their two layer lines - he doesn't bother to check any of the other largescale producers. He doesn't bother to even check into feed conversion rates for heritage birds - yet still tries to spin it that white eggs are better, etc. It's a propaganda rag masquerading as science. He pushes heritage birds as environmental choice despite the fact that having a flock of meat birds and a flock of egg birds is drastically more food efficient than having a flock of dual purpose birds- not an ethical choice (which would be fine) - but an environmental one.
Home eggs are fresher - I don't think there's any debate on that. Beyond that though, egg nutrition is largely genetic, and somewhat influenced by the birds diet - pastured eggs are healthier than battery eggs - but you can buy pastured eggs at every supermarket nowadays. Birds that eat predominately layer food, and are generally confined, are going to produce eggs of similar nutrient profile - whether they're raised on a factory farm, or in the 10x12 run in someone's backyard. Birds that are out foraging are going to produce eggs dependent on what they catch, whether that's in a 200,000 acre commercial ranch, or in my 5 or so acres of pastures.
There are plenty of reasons to raise backyard birds - but egg nutrition really isn't one of them. (Ethical reasons, love of animals, etc) - And I say this as someone who sells duck, goose, and chicken eggs out of his backyard - I'd rather have my eggs bought for what they actually are, then lie to my customers. People want to buy more humanely raised eggs/dairy/meat these days - there's no reason to mislead them.
Here's another MEN article on chickens - see how many logical leaps the author makes?
http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/eat-white-chicken-eggs.aspx#axzz3JdjdLQeO
He starts out by telling people they need to eat white eggs because white layers convert food better (true), then gets squicked out and decides people should get heritage birds because you don't have to kill the roosters. He comes to this entire conclusion based on one companies numbers for their two layer lines - he doesn't bother to check any of the other largescale producers. He doesn't bother to even check into feed conversion rates for heritage birds - yet still tries to spin it that white eggs are better, etc. It's a propaganda rag masquerading as science. He pushes heritage birds as environmental choice despite the fact that having a flock of meat birds and a flock of egg birds is drastically more food efficient than having a flock of dual purpose birds- not an ethical choice (which would be fine) - but an environmental one.
Remember that the CAFO poultry houses get their feed in railroad carloads. There is something (actually a lot) to be said for small operations, even backyard coops and the eggs produced. Here in CA we can't advertise to the public w/o a license, so I work on word of mouth. People are waking up food-wise and know that quality food costs more, but are willing to pay.
