New ‘half-organic’ rules from the EU could trigger a move to fully organic rearing years ahead of industry expectations.
The possibility has emerged as rearers and producers begin thrashing out the implications of the new rules which, as revealed in the Ranger, were introduced unexpectedly at the beginning of this year.
The new regulations mean that any chick hatched after December 31 this year and heading for an organic unit must be fed an organic diet and be subject to organic veterinary procedures.
Major pullet rearers have already begun the process of identifying buildings that can be used for the smaller numbers of birds required by organic units and working out additional costs. The picture emerging is that feed will add around a pound or more to the cost of a bird, assuming that the organic content of the diet does not rise above 85 per cent in new rule changes this summer.
Using Paracox instead of anticoccidiostats will add another 7p. But in many cases there will be an additional cost to cover wasted space in rearing sheds if an order for say 4000 birds has to be reared in a shed which could take 6000. The ‘wastage’ cost is likely to add between 25p and 50p so the final charge will be around £1.50p per bird above conventional costs.
But even when they have met these costs producers will still have to take the birds through a six-week conversion period when they reach the organic farm, during which time eggs can only be sold as free range.
So moves are already being made towards making the switch to full organic rearing. This would avoid the six week conversion period. There is even the possibility that the producer might recoup some of the costs if a market develops for organic spent hens.
No organic pullet rearing rules have yet been agreed by the EU but talks may begin again as soon as next month on the issue. UK proposals put forward in Brussels, which set flock sizes of 6000 birds, have now been taken up by the certification body Organic Farmers and Growers. But there is still discussion about whether birds should have access to pasture or simply to verandahs.
“There is a new impetus to the idea of introducing fully organic standards,” said OF&G’s Richard Jacobs. “The argument is that if producers are having to face increased costs for part-organic birds then why not go the whole hog and have an opportunity to perhaps recoup some of that money. I was very disappointed with the introduction of the new part-organic rules which are in truth a muddle.
“There are many difficulties in the way and we certainly would not want to be in a position of imposing costs on UK producers that others on the continent were not facing. We want to move to full organic status but only in step with the rest of Europe.”
Country Fresh Pullets, one of the nation’s biggest rearers, is already considering these options. Managing director Steve Carlyle told the Ranger: “There are substantial problems in the way but it is certainly a possibility that verandahs could be added to buildings.
“It does offer advantages over the part-organic system but this is going to require a good deal of investment by the rearers and it will need a great deal of commitment from all sides.”
But Mr Carlyle said major difficulties would still be encountered with rearers attempting to get maximum usage out of 6000 bird sheds. Country Fresh has already held talks with Richard Jacobs about the introduction of full organic rearing.
The Soil Association, the only body to have fully operational pullet rules, is convinced that the ‘half-organic’ requirement will trigger a move into one hundred per cent organic rearing, particularly in order that producers can avoid the six-week conversion period.
“The new requirements show a real determination from the EU towards ending the derogation for non-organic pullets,” senior certification officer Bridie Glynn-Jones says in the Association’s magazine Organic Farming.
Organic rules already stipulate that producers must purchase fully organic birds where they are available and certification bodies are increasing the pressure on members on this issue. But the industry still faces enormous uncertainties over layer performance when birds are fed from day-old on organic diets. Rearers will also demand part payment in advance because if an order were cancelled the birds would be difficult to sell on the open market.
But fears that the new rules could meet with a refusal by rearers to become involved appear to have evaporated. Olivia Potter, responsible for the pullet rearing arm of Midlands-based Potters Poultry, said: “We will definitely be rearing birds for organic production from January 1. We have four smaller houses which are suitable.
“A deposit will be essential and we will be seeking guidance from feed suppliers and breed companies as to what growth profiles we can expect and in turn what performance the egg producer can expect. We would estimate a minimum cost increase per bird of £1.10 to £1.20 over conventionally reared pullets.”
But one major rearer told the Ranger that given the difficulties involved there was still potential for the whole organic pullet rearing picture to become “one hell of a mess”.
Egg packer Deans has said it will try and recover money from retailers and pass it back to organic producers who face spiralling production costs.
“We have been keeping our retail customers informed on the changing organic regulations and the effect this will have on cost,” says Deans’ contract supplies manager, John Holt, in a letter to organic producers. “When the time comes we will be aiming to recover these additional costs so that we can pass them on to producers.”
Deans has told its suppliers that if pullets are not reared according to the new rules it will jeopardize the organic status of the flock once they are laying and the eggs will not be able to be marketed as organic. While the organic certification bodies currently have no power to monitor procedures on farms rearing ‘half-organic’ pullets, it has been proposed that auditing is carried out under the BEIC Lion code.
