Conventional feed with Organic “Finishing”

[MildlyOffensiveChicken]

I come at this question from a non commercial perspective.

My limited reading and listening has indicated to me that nutrients/toxins in the meat are closely tied to the diet eaten a few weeks up to slaughter.

So claim that grass fed beef, finished on corn, loses most of the benefits of grass fed.

For personal use, what would be the outcome of feeding conventional until say 12 weeks and finishing on organic?

Can anyone point me to resources on this topic for chickens and I’d love to hear personal opinions or experiences.

 

[iwltfum]

There alot of reasons that different folks would list as their reason(s) for using organic feed. Whether it be religiously through all stages of the life of the animal or for a finishing period or some combination. Alot of people feeding organic raise their animals in pastured systems too so that adds an element of non-comparability.

That being said, an egg laid from a chicken that has ever been fed non-organic feed ever in its lifetime, cannot be considered USDA organic. And a chicken that was ever fed non-organic feed in its lifetime can also not be considered a USDA organic chicken for sale as meat. Tenicalities, sure, and it reflects how the general public defines organic, not how you personally define organic.

Taste and texture-wise. I would venture a guess that you would see very little difference if you did a side by side test feeding conventional for the entire life vs feeding conventional for 12 weeks and then switching to organic for 4 or how ever long.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I come at this question from a non commercial perspective.

My limited reading and listening has indicated to me that nutrients/toxins in the meat are closely tied to the diet eaten a few weeks up to slaughter.

So claim that grass fed beef, finished on corn, loses most of the benefits of grass fed.

For personal use, what would be the outcome of feeding conventional until say 12 weeks and finishing on organic?

Can anyone point me to resources on this topic for chickens and I’d love to hear personal opinions or experiences.

The outcome would be that your chicken meant would be more expensive than if you didn't finish it on organic. Organic / Not Organic is not necessarily better - or worse - from a nutritional standpoint, but you can bet that the mix of ingredients necessary to make an organic feed substantially identical, nutritionally, to a non-organic feed WILL change. Certain amino acids are extremely hard to provide in quantity by way of organic feeding. Fortunately for your question, the need for those high quantity (as % of total diet) amino acids drop as the bird ages, so its less critical than it could be.

the mention of "toxins" presumes:
A) that a given toxin is present in your non-organic feed
B) that the toxin survives a chicken's digestive system, rather than being broken down into safer components
C) that the toxin moves unchanged into the chicken, rather than being excreted
D) that the toxin is concentrated in a part of the chicken you eat (if you don't eat liver and kidneys, you eliminate concentrations of numerous chemicals, some of which are both life CRITICAL *and* concerning in high quantity. Many trace metals fall into this category.)

So, step away from the generic, and talk specifics. Otherwise, its just fear mongering. Yes, SOME things a chicken eats can concentrate in the meat, much as mercury concentrates in certain fish species - but if those things aren't present in your feed, and they aren't present in your grounds, they aren't a cause for concern. Even if they are present, the dosage is the poison - how concerning the chemical is depends on concentration, frequency of consumption, expected remaining lifespan.

Note that, for many of these chemicals, "organic" says nothing about their presence or absence.

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

I have to agree there is the rules and regulations for the purpose or resale to the consumers and protection of the labeling for the producers.

Then there is what you decide and why. What are your goals?

I have friends who keep flocks for profit their goals are very different than mine and as result we have different results and feed choices.

Friend #1 Raises her birds to sell eggs and food for her family. Her birds are fed regular layer pellets, organic. It is about feed efficiency for her. Birds free range but not supplemented, flock regularly culled. Breed specific flock.

Friend #2 Raises his birds also for profit, free ranges, organic, no soy, no corn. He pays more for feed, but charges more. He culls as needed. His customers have allergies and where having allergic reactions to eggs and meat until buying from him. Breed specific flock.

Me: Raises chickens for fun. I want my birds to live long life’s first, anything else is just a fringe benefit. My bird’s diets are based on long term health over production or feed efficiency. I have 1 breed with potential sensitivity to corn. Thus I need to limit corn, also my breeds are not bred for feed efficiency, they are ornamental, or dual purpose predominantly requiring a higher protein %. Thus I feed organic no corn which is also no soy if buying premixed feed. I have mixed my own as well. I don’t care one way over the other concern soy. I supplement the feed when I think they need it. My birds are also allowed to range around my 1/4 acre yard. Mixed breed flock. Being organic though is secondary for me. I have never sold my eggs.

Comparing our eggs at a pot luck breakfast at work… we supplied the eggs for the breakfast.

Friend #1 Thinnest shell, wateriest whites, palest yolks. Eggs look the same, uniform. Organic Layer pellets.

Friend #2 Hard shell, whites decent, yellow yolk color. Eggs look the same, uniform. Organic no corn no soy feed whole grain.

Me Hard shell, whites decent, neon yellow color so bright some folks thought they were died (friends explained it was a difference in our feed choices to coworkers and not dye). Eggs not uniform in size, colour or shape. Organic no corn no soy whole grain higher protein % feed then my two friends.

All our eggs the department agree taste 100% better than store eggs and better looking, probably because all flocks are getting a fair amount of greens. Mine are bright because they get carrot, pumpkin, flower petals all of which make bright yolk.

Our conclusions the different protein level, calcium supplement and other diet choices made a clear visual difference between eggs from the three flocks. Diets effected every part of the egg.

Since I do not raise for meat at this time that would require us all setting up a timed experiment on that… weight gain, agreed on slaughter age, taste and look of meat, between the three flocks all with different breeds. However I do know all three of us can produce a healthy tasty meat chicken simply because if nothing else fresh chicken is way better tasting than what you get at the store.

As to toxins, I do not understand.

What do you want out of your flock? Decides their diet.