Report: nutrient needs of organic chickens 20 Aug 2008

The energy and protein requirements of poultry are determined by the need of nutrients for maintenance, as well as the need of nutrients for production.

It is suggested that energy requirement of organic housed poultry is higher compared to conventional housed poultry as a result of three different factors.

The authors of the report hypothesize that energy requirements of organic housed poultry are increased as a result of higher energy need for maintenance. Protein requirements, however, seem to be similar for organic and conventional housed poultry. Therefore, energy to protein ratio of organic poultry diets might be increased.

 

Full report (in Dutch) 
Wageningen UR