Lucerne for broilers

Lucerne for broilers as roughage can’t be forgetten from poultry farming. The pork sector knows the way to find Hartog Lucerne to offer distraction and structure.

The Compact Lucerne and Compact Lucerne Organic bales of Hartog give the chickens distractions and help prevent feather picks. These straps around the Compact Lucerne slow down the intake, allowing the chickens / broilers take their time with a bale.

Since 2013, the “chicken of tomorrow” concept has been rolled out by several supermarkets. The purpose of the concept is to preserve the chain, especially the poultry sector that produces the meat will bring the chicken to a large extent according to new conditions. These conditions relate in particular to the welfare of the chickens. Some supermarkets sell only this new chicken meat.

Better life quality mark – The Chicken of Tomorrow

According to several organizations, the welfare conditions of the “Chicken of Tomorrow” concept are very poor. As a result, new and improved concepts have been rolled out by supermarkets. Many of these concepts involve hutch enrichment. The poultry are not only given more space and a longer time to grow, but are also offered roughage such as Lucerne or straw.

For consumers it is very difficult to distinguish these different concepts. For a number of concepts, roughage for poultry is offered as a trace material:

What are the benefits of lucerne for broilers?

Compared to a laying hen, the broiler chicken only has a short lifespan. In the first weeks of life, a broiler is still very susceptible to bacteria and germs. This is because the animal still has to build up resistance. The resistance is mainly determined by the intestines. This is where nutrients such as vitamins and minerals are absorbed. In addition, harmful bacteria in the intestines can make the chicken sick. Reduced intestinal function or illness results in watery droppings. Medications/supplements are also administered in cases of illness that cause the chicken to drink more. This causes the manure to become thinner and the bedding to become moister. This results in higher infection pressure in the barn. Lucerne is very high in fiber and helps optimize intestinal function and intestinal flora in the early stages. Also, Lucerne for broilers, due to its foraging behavior, has a positive effect on litter quality.

These new concepts also use new breeds of poultry. These breeds grow slower and mostly the chickens are more active. They ” play ” more in the house and also look for more distractions. ” the poultry farmer sees more movement in the house and the animals are also more focused on what is going on around them. Providing distractions is crucial here. Poultry that are not given enough opportunities to forage, dust bath and move are more likely to focus on each other, causing feather pecking. The chicks then get a less thick plumage and subsequently need more nutrition to stay warm and convert less energy into meat!

Choosing between straw and lucerne

Straw comes directly from the land. As a result, there is a chance of bacterial contamination from outdoor birds, etc. Through strict GMP regulations, we try to keep out germs, such as salmonella. In contrast, alfalfa is artificially dried, killing germs. The Hartog Compact bales are stepped and wrapped in foil. This allows the product to be stored safely and cleanly. The straps around the Compact Lucerne slow down absorption, allowing chickens to use a bale longer. Grass Dryer Hartog is the only dryer that dries its products with direct gas combustion. This combustion is extremely clean and safe for the broilers. The packaging is also dioxin-free.

The advantages of the Hartog Compact Lucerne: