Attitudes and perceptions of three groups of family farmers in Brazil on ...

Attitudes and perceptions of three groups of family farmers in Brazil on problems they perceive in raising broilers and alternative feeding strategies Gustavo Fonseca de Almeida, K. Horsted, E. A. Figueiredo, S. M. Thamsborg, M. B. Molento, L. C. Demattê Filho & J. E. Hermansen Organic Agriculture Official journal of The International Society of Organic Agriculture Research ISSN 1879-4238 Org. Agr. DOI 10.1007/s13165-014-0090-2

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Author's personal copy Org. Agr. DOI 10.1007/s13165-014-0090-2

Attitudes and perceptions of three groups of family farmers in Brazil on problems they perceive in raising broilers and alternative feeding strategies Gustavo Fonseca de Almeida & K. Horsted & E. A. Figueiredo & S. M. Thamsborg & M. B. Molento & L. C. Demattê Filho & J. E. Hermansen Received: 21 February 2013 / Accepted: 7 December 2014 # Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

Abstract With the purpose to identify alternatives to the use of oil seed crops and cereals in broiler feeding, we interviewed 21 family farmers raising broilers in alternative systems located in three relevant sites for the poultry industry in Brazil. Two groups in the south (Parana and Rio Grande do Sul) were organized in cooperatives raising slow-growing broilers in freerange systems. The third group was linked to a broiler company in the state of Sao Paulo producing antibioticfree (AF) broilers in intensive systems. Individual assessments were performed through surveys with semiG. F. de Almeida (*) : K. Horsted : J. E. Hermansen Department of Agroecology, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Aarhus University, Research Centre Foulum, Blichers Allé 20, P.O. Box 50, 8830 Tjele, Denmark e-mail: [email protected] E. A. Figueiredo EMBRAPA National Institute of Research in Swine and Poultry Systems, Caixa Postal 21, CEP: 89700-000 Concórdia, SC, Brazil S. M. Thamsborg Danish Centre for Experimental Parasitology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Dyrlægevej 100, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark M. B. Molento Laboratory of Parasitological Diseases, Federal University of Parana, Rua dos Funcionários, 1540, Curitiba, PR 80035-050, Brazil L. C. Demattê Filho Department of Economy and Rural Sociology, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ), University of São Paulo, Avenida Pádua Dias 11, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil

structured questions. Nutrient supply was heavily dependent on maize and soy. Free-range broilers were normally raised with access to outdoor areas in permanent paddocks with very little vegetation available. In the three sites, the finishing period of broilers was the production stage with higher feed supplementation. In addition, farmers producing AF broilers highlighted subclinical coccidiosis as of high economic importance. Production of slow-growing broilers in free-range systems would benefit from local resources for the finishing period. Novel feeding strategies for broilers are suggested based on the farmers’ report, agroecological site characteristics, and production systems. Keywords Tropical production systems . Feed ingredients . Broiler . Alternative systems

Introduction Poultry meat is considered a viable source of protein to humans because it is easy and fast to produce and has a smaller environmental footprint than other types of meat (de Vries and de Boer 2010). However, scaling up the production of chickens has revealed a number of limitations in relation to sustainability issues, e.g., in animal welfare and quality attributes (Vermeir and Verbeke 2006). Food contamination and microbial resistance are also of great public concern (Molento 2009). Alternative methods of chicken production have been investigated to tackle these problems. In recent years, there has been a growing market for organically reared

Author's personal copy Org. Agr.

chickens due to changes in the consumers’ behavior largely in response to demand for improved poultry welfare (Fröhlich et al. 2012). In addition to animal welfare, environmental protection and the absence of pesticides in the production of crops and medicine residues in animal products were the most important attributes highlighted by consumers (Wier et al. 2008; Martínez Michel et al. 2011). In Brazil, nutrient supply of broilers relies on maize and soy as the most important ingredients for composing commercial diets. However, the use of transgenic crops is prohibited in animal nutrition for organic systems (IFOAM 2005). Nowadays, one of the most relevant constraints for organic and alternative farmers is to purchase nontransgenic ingredients at reasonable costs. Brazil grew more than 30 million hectares of transgenic crops in 2011, comprising soy and maize as the most important ones (James 2011). The total planted area of the two crops in the country was approximately 35 million hectares of which 75 % was transgenic, and it is particularly pronounced in the south of Brazil. Transgenic maize is the second most important crop in Brazil, with a total of 9.1 million hectares for both seasons (summer 4.5 million hectares and winter 4.6 million hectares) representing, in 2011, approximately 60 % of total cultivated area and with the highest adoption the center and south of Brazil. Organic and alternative broiler farmers in the southern part of Brazil are facing relevant limitations in the production due to unavailability of nontransgenic feed ingredients at reasonable costs, demanding new strategies for nutrient supply of broilers. Several decades ago, chickens were left to roam seeking essential parts of their nutritional needs on or below the soil surface. Robinson (1961) estimated feed savings about 10 % when fresh grass was available to hens in free-range systems. In a more recent study, it was estimated that up to 70 % of the requirement of methionine in mature laying hens raised in small flocks (n=30) were covered when abundant forage were given (Horsted and Hermansen 2007). In addition, the access to pasture exerts relevant effects on both product quality and animal health in production of laying hens (LopezBote et al. 1998; Horsted et al. 2010a, b; Sossidou et al. 2010). Similar effects are expected in the production of free-range broilers, especially in the final part of their growing period.

In practice, however, very little attention has been given to make outdoor runs attractive and nutritious to broilers (Van de Weerd et al. 2009). In addition, in freerange systems, chickens are normally raised with access to permanent paddocks especially in the surrounding areas of the houses leading to higher exposure to parasites and higher risks of infection with intestinal parasites like different kinds of worms (Permin et al. 1999) and coccidiosis. More specifically, Rodriguez et al. (1997), in Mexico, and Luchese et al. (2007), in Brazil, referred to coccidiosis as the most important cause of mortality in broilers also in smallholder systems. To investigate current practices and opportunities to improve efficiency in the production of broilers in more sustainable production systems, we have used a multiple case study strategy (Yin 2003) to investigate groups of farmers located in three hot spots for the Brazilian poultry industry with the main objectives of studying alternative systems, their main challenges and limitations in production, and how systems could be improved by using local and alternative resources in broiler nutrition. In the next section, our methodological approach is presented. Thereafter, the “Results” section is presented highlighting the characteristics each site, followed by the farmer’s answers to questions related to our research objectives. In the final part, we provide a general interpretation for each site, including general suggestions to tackle the main problems reported by the farmers.

Material and methods Data collection and analytical strategy This work was framed by developing a description of production characteristics for each site. Initially, group leaders and key stakeholders were interviewed using qualitative interview methods suggested by Kvale and Brinkmann (2009). In addition, contextual data were collected from relevant organizations like local companies’ cooperatives, municipalities, extension offices, and local universities. More than a general overview of the sites, our target in this part of the work was to identify agroecological characteristics as well as public policies, extension services, technical support, and market channels attending small-scale farmers in each site. A detailed survey was then conducted over a number of farmers in each site. The survey was designed to


acquire household information and detailed production data. In addition, qualitative information of farmers’ perceptions of aspects related to farming systems was also explored with open-ended questions. A list composed by potential benefits and limitations (Table 1) was provided, and farmers ranked the most important pros and cons. In the final part of the survey, we gained knowledge on their opinions regarding possible strategies to replace the use of oil seed crops and cereals in nutrition, with focus on maize and soy due to market unavailability and high price for such nontransgenic crops. In this part, interviewers were trained to ask farmers to identify ingredients and/or novel arrangements that could be used to substitute the main crops (maize and soy) in the case of a hypothetical unavailability like a certification limitation causing failure in supply such ingredients. Coccidiosis can severely affect feed conversion rate in broilers (De Gussem 2007). For this reason, we asked farmers what would be the best practical strategy for supplementing natural ingredients in order to control the disease in alternative systems, if in water or in feed. Benefits and constraints of each strategy of delivery were also explored. Complementary qualitative data were also collected during follow-up verification visits as conducted in previous studies (Almeida and de Abreu 2009; Oelofse et al. 2010; Knudsen et al. 2011). Categorical data from the surveys were used to elaborate a dataset in Excel, thus including tabs with transcriptions from individual answers. Data were grouped among

Table 1 List of potential benefits and limitations provided for farmers to rank Benefits

Constraints

High price and sale security (by contract) Reduced (input) costs

Manure management Diseasesa

Animal welfare

Low income

Food safety and quality of products (consumers) Improve farm nutritional balance

Low yield

Health (for the family of the household head)

Commercialization

High princes for feed ingredients

Lack of labor Source: after Almeida and de Abreu (2009) a

With focus on avian coccidiosis and alternatives used by farmers to treat the disease

case studies, thus considering the regional characteristics (agroenvironment and territory, local neighbors, farmers’ organization, supply markets, public policies, etc.) to answer the research questions of this work. The decision of choosing the sites was based on the presence of smallholder systems which produce broilers in alternative systems located where the greatest production of table chickens occurs in Brazil. After discussing with local stakeholders, we selected one case in each site based on the following criteria: (1) smallholders attending the national criteria for family agriculture, (2) farmers raising broilers in alternative production systems (without growth enhancers and/or chemical drugs), and (3) farmers linked to alternative market chains.

Results Regions and farmers A general description of the three sites is summarized in Table 2, followed by a short description of each studied site. Ipeúna, São Paulo The first studied group was formed by contracted farmers from a broiler company located in the municipality of Ipeúna, state of São Paulo. Farmers raise antibiotic-free (AF) broilers (fast-growing genotypes) in intensive systems without growth enhancers or ingredients of animal origin included in the feed. One of the farmers in this sample was raising organic broilers. The municipality is located in the neighborhood of sugar cane plantations, close to mountain areas where small fragments of forests and mosaics of different crops can be observed in diversified and small production systems. The broiler company Korin (www.korin.com.br), owned by the World Messianic Church in Brazil, is located in this municipality. Farmers linked to the company are placed no more than 75 km distant. In 1981, the Mokiti Okada Foundation was launched in the municipality and became the hub of the nature farming methods in Brazil (Demattê Filho 2004). In 1993, research was initiated in the production of broilers without use of antibiotics (AF broilers). By the end of 1999, the production of broilers was transferred to integrated and collaborative small-scale farmers

613 1500

Geographic location

Altitude (m asl)

Precipitation (mm/year)b

Natural and organic using fast-growing genotype (Cobb 500S) Broilers, wood (eucalyptus), and vegetables Vertical integration—contracted farmers 26 26 Private stores, food boutiques, supermarkets

Production systems and type of broiler

Main products of economic importance for participant farmers Type of farmers organization

Total number of collaborative farmers

Number of farmers producing broilers

Main meat market

b

a

Source: INPE, 2012 (cptec.impe.br)

Source: IBGE, 2010 (cidades.ibge.gov.br)

Other data obtained from the municipality reports and from this research

Feb–Mar 2012

Period of data collection

Mean annual temp (°C) 21

22° 33′ S, 47° 55′ W

Populationa

b

São Paulo (SP) 6016

State in Brazil

Ipeúna

Site/municipality

Table 2 Site characteristics

Local stores; farmers network and public policies—municipality (schools and hospitals)

8

22

Maize, soybeans, wheat, winter crops, cassava, fruits, broilers, and sheep Cooperative with own agroindustry slaughter house

Caipira free range using slow-growing genotype (naked neck)

Jun–Jul 2012

18

1900

658

28° 01′ S, 52° 07′ W

19,252

Rio Grande do Sul (RS)

Tapejara

Municipality schools and touristic attractions; street fairs

5

20

Cooperative without slaughter house

Vegetables and free-range broilers

Caipira free range using slow-growing genotype (naked neck)

Jul–Sep 2012

17

1500

948

25° 02′ S, 49° 04′ W

19,851

Paraná (PR)

Quatro Barras



located in the surrounding area in a vertical integration scheme. Our sample was composed of seven farmers producing AF broilers plus one organic farmer. Tapejara, Rio Grande do Sul Farmers from Tapejara municipality were organized at Coopervita cooperative and were all originated from a settlement from agrarian reform. The main use of soil in the region was the production of cereals and oil seed crops in rotation with winter crops. Soy, maize, and wheat are the most common cash crops produced. Farmers raise free-range caipira broilers (slow-growing genotypes), and also, other livestock are kept being sheep and dairy as the most important. The cooperative was launched in 1991 after strong economic crises that affected Brazil. In that period, 13 families initiated associative practices initially for reaching food subsistence. In common areas, not only food for their own subsistence, family members cultivated fruit plots as medium- to long-term investment. From 1991 to 1994, farmers organized the cooperative and overcome the previous crises. They were favored by a governmental program to recover soil fertility. All farms linked to the cooperative have had a third of their land recovered1 for cropping grains and cereals. In 1995, the cooperative was paying back for the labor work of collaborative farmers and family members (i.e., women were paid by working in the community bakery or in restaurant while men by taking care of common fields, livestock, and fruit plots). In 1998, farmers decided to build their own agroindustry for processing their fruits in marmalade, jams, and sweets. From that period, farmers started marketing their products labeled as ecological (however, not certified as organic) for a specific governmental program.2 In 2002, after attending a course provided by the estate extension office, part of the farmers begun to produce free-range broilers. After 2 years, in 2004, 1

Recovering soil fertility was basically achieved by the application of lime to correct pH; fertilization strategies based on agronomic recommendations and use of agronomic practices to avoid soil erosion like cultivation under the straw (without plowing) and construction of terraces. 2 In 2011, more than 70 % of the cooperative income was provided by the supply the national program of Food Acquisition (Programa de aquisição de alimentos (PAA)) which guarantees a minimum price for products originated in smallholder systems and supplemented to municipal schools and hospitals. A premium price of 30 % of the market price (compared to non organic products) is paid if products are certified as “organic products.”

the cooperative constructed its own, small-scale, slaughter house to benefit from an increased market demand for the free-range broiler meat. Our sample was formed by the eight small-scale farmers producing free-range broilers.

Quatro Barras, Paraná The third group of farmers was also part of a cooperative, Cooperative COOAG-QB (Cooperativa Agropecuaria de Quatro Barras). Smallholders were producing mainly vegetables in the estate of Parana, and five of them were raising free-range caipira broilers. One of them was certified as organic. The municipality of Quatro Barras is part of an environmental protection area due to its potential to water catchment and supply drinking water to the metropolitan area of Curitiba and its neighbor municipalities. The cooperative was marketing food products with a touristic brand called “Graciosa”3 in connection with the municipality touristic strategy. The cooperative was established in 2005 after an effort from the municipality to purchase local food products without chemicals and pesticides in accordance with a municipal environmental regulation. Farmers were expected to supply horticultural products and meat for celebrations and other local demands like food for public schools. Even purchasing ingredients and balancing their own diet for production like the other two groups in this study, the logistics for its process (i.e., transport of ingredients, slaughterhouse, freezers, etc.) were all rented. Even starting the broiler production with 20 farmers, by the time of our field work, only five of them were still motivated to produce. Lack of organization, high farmer expectations/dependence from the municipality and high costs for production were the main aspects influencing farmers to abandon production. Our sample in Quatro Barras was formed by the five remaining farmers producing broilers linked to the cooperative.

3

Gracious in a reference to the beauty of a road crossing the municipality in a protected Atlantic forest area that was used (and named gracious) by the Emperor Don Pedro I in the nineteenth century.


Farmer’s response to interview questions

Table 3 Household and production information for the three case studies

Farmers were asked to rank possible benefits obtained in production. Six out of eight farmers in Ipeúna responded that high prices paid for the AF broilers including security in sales, guaranteed by contracts, as major advantages. Two out of eight reported food safety as benefits to consumers as the main advantage for production of AF broilers. In Tapejara, five out of eight reported food safety associated to quality of products as major advantage while in Quatro Barras, and all five farmers pointed to food safety, thus associated to quality of products by the absence of medical drugs and pesticides. All farmers from Ipeúna responded that disease was the main problem in production. Seven out of eight responded that coccidiosis was a problem in production. In Tapejara, half of the farmers attributed high prices of feed as the main problem in production. Two farmers reported labor as a major problem. In Tapejara, only two out of eight responded that coccidiosis was a problem in production. In Quatro Barras, four out of five attributed to the costs of the diets as the main problem in production. One farmer in this group argued that the scarcity of organic soybean meal in the market was the major constraint in production. More detailed household information and general production data for each site are given in Table 3. Seven out of eight farmers in Ipeúna associated coccidiosis with necrotic enteritis. Four out of eight in the same group reported that the use of a commercial product based in oregano extract was not efficient to control coccidiosis. Two out of four did not know if oregano was used in production while the other two farmers did not use oregano because it was not recommended by the company technicians. In addition, farmers and technicians in Ipeúna were critical in respect to coccidia vaccination. Surprisingly, they reported inefficiency of commercial vaccines especially when it was associated with the inclusion of new litter material (wood shavings) in the broiler houses. Perhaps the absence of an efficient vaccination program and/or the noninclusion of coccidiostats in the feed stimulated farmers and technicians to report that recycle of bedding material was useful management strategy to reduce problems with coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis by providing an early challenge. When farmers from Ipeúna were asked if they were satisfied with the genotype used (fast-growing broilers), only three out of eight responded positive. Farmers

Household information

Ipeúna (SP)

Tapejara (RS)

Quatro Barras (PR)

Number of farmers interviewed Size of farms (ha)

8

8

5

5

30

5

Flock runs/year/farmer

6

3–4

3

Size of flocks (heads)

22,000

1800

400

Education of the HH (years) Age HH (years old)

9

4.5

5

43

54

52

Annual income from broilers (%) Age at slaughter (days)

65

10

15

42–56

70–90

80–90

Mortality (%)

5.75

4

4

Main feed ingredients

Maize/soy Maize/soy

Production data

Maize/soy

Source: data obtained in this research HH household head

reported also less efficiency in feed conversion when compared to conventional systems. All farmers from Ipeúna highlighted the finishing period as the stage with highest amount of food supplied to broilers and less efficiency to convert feed into meat. In both groups, raising free-range broilers in Quatro Barras and in Tapejara coccidiosis was not as relevant as it was for the group producing AF broilers in Ipeúna. High age of slaughter (>70 days) was an important variable reflecting farmer’s opinions on the most important constraints in production (Table 3). Even though farmers in Quatro Barras and in Tapejara complained on the age of slaughter as an important limitation for production, they were generally satisfied with the robustness of slow-growing genotypes. For those farmers, the most challenging factor was to reduce production costs, especially related to feed ingredients. Interpreting farmer answers Both groups of farmers linked to cooperatives in the south of Brazil (Parana and Rio Grande do Sul) were controlling all production factors—from purchase of feed ingredients to balancing the diets; from finding technical support to planning the scale of production, slaughter, and marketing —using their own human


resource, differently from the group of farmers from Ipeúna which were vertically integrated to a commercial company. In this integrated group, farmers were only responsible for feeding and taking care of the broilers while the company had the responsibility for all other production factors, inclusive balancing and supplying the diet and technical assistance. A high proportion of the annual income from the group of farmers in Ipeúna (65 %) was obtained from the production of broilers. In the two groups in the south, the direct contact with consumers and also their main market channels associated to municipal programs could have influenced their main perceptions on benefits related to food safety. In our opinion, it suggests that the absence of chemicals and pesticides made it possible to obtain higher prices and market access, which was the real motivation for producing the free-range broilers. The majority of the farmers in Ipeúna reported investments in equipments and control of diseases as a very important challenging for the future. However, prohibition of chemical products against coccidiosis and antibiotics without an efficient substitute product/process was clearly affecting performance of their systems. It would be one of the reasons why most of the farmers (five out of eight) were unsatisfied with genotypes (fast-growing) used in the production of AF broilers. We observed that for the production of AF broilers, the main challenge for the farmers was to adapt the system—by the need of alternative inputs to be substituted to conventional—like natural supplements to treat diseases and also more robust broiler genotypes. Half of farmers in Tapejara reported high production costs as the most important challenge for keeping producing the free-range broilers. In a similar magnitude, farmers from Quatro Barras also complained about high production costs. In our opinion, slow-growing broilers would benefit in both cases if higher amounts of roughage are available to chickens and more enriched barns are provided. Alternative feed resources in the outdoor runs could be made available targeting the finishing period also because slow-growing broilers are excellent foragers in this production stage (Nielsen et al. 2003; Almeida et al. 2012). The use of movable houses or tents (Forkman et al. 2004) could also be part of farmer strategies. However, it requires extra labor and availability of labor was one of the problems reported by farmers. When more holistic systems are targeted, integration with fruits (Pedersen et al. 2004) and other animals like ruminants (Antell 2005) could also be an option and

would be in accordance with the ideals and principles of organic farming (Almeida 2012). In Ipeúna, farmers suggested that products to be used in treatment of infection diseases would be more efficient if delivered in drinking water. The main reason was that mixing the natural products in the feed could cause degradation of the material as metal feed silos were normally left outside the chicken houses and thus exposed to high temperature variation, common in the tropics. Farmer opinions in respect of novel feeding strategies Differences in production systems influenced farmers’ opinions regarding strategies to reduce the use of maize and soy. Table 4 shows the number of spontaneous responses for ingredients to substitute maize and soy as diet ingredients and also about plant species that could be cultivated in the chicken runs as partial supplementation of nutrients through foraging. Farmers from the three sites reported cassava as the most important crop for substitution purposes. However, different forms of cassava manipulation were suggested possibly due to particularities in production systems and culture. Farmers from Ipeúna proposed cassava meal (obtained after processing the tubers) while farmers in the south proposed the different parts and all plant materials supplemented fresh or in the form of silage (leaves, stems, and tubers altogether). In Ipeúna, farmers advised other ingredients but without a clear indication. Sorghum was also suggested by at least one farmer in all three sites. When farmers reported about plants to be cultivated in the chicken runs, only three species of plants were commonly cited by farmers in the three sites (Table 4). One farmer in Ipeúna, one farmer in Tapejara, and all five farmers in Quatro Barras reported oat, Avena sativa, as potential species for cultivation. In addition to oat, two legume crop species (perennial soy and guandu beans, a small bush) were also suggested in the three locations by at least one farmer in each site (Table 4). Farmers in Ipeúna spontaneously proposed ten different species of plants to be used as pasture, most of it as grass species. However, there was too much variation in responses (Table 4). Only capim gordura grass (fat grass) was cited by two different farmers in this group. For the farmers in the south raising free-range broilers, winter crops were suggested. Clover and alfafa were proposed for cultivation in chicken runs. For the group in Tapejara, different types of forage crops were also cited. Kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) and

Author's personal copy Org. Agr. Table 4 Farmers’ opinions on potential ingredients for diets and plant species for the outdoor runs Ingredient/plant species (popular name)

Scientific name

Ipeúna (SP)

Rice

Orysa sativa

*

Rapeseed

Brassica napus

Cassava

Manihot esculenta

****

Faba beans

Vicia faba

**

Sorghum

Sorghum bicolor

**

Peanut

Arachis hypogaea

*

Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

**

Pumpkin

Curcubita pepo

Tapejara (RS)

Quatro Barras (PR)

******

**

*

**

Substitutes to maize and soybeans (meal) *

* *

*

Potential plants for cultivation in the outdoor runs São Carlos grass

Axonopus affinis

*

Capim gordura grass

Melinis minutiflora

**

Bermuda grass

Cynodon dactylon

*

Carurú herb

Amaranthus viridis

*

Canary hrass

Phalaris canariensis

*

Napier hrass

Pennisetum purpureum

Oat

Avena sativa

Rye

Secale cereale

Kikuyu grass

Pennisetum clandestinum

Ryegrass

Lolium multiflorum

Ramie

Boehmeria nivea

*

Linseed

Linum usitatissimum

*

Leucaena

Leucaena glaca

Perennial soy

Neonotonia wightii

*

*

*

Guandu beans

Cajanus cajan

*

*

*

Alfafa/luzerna

Medicago sativa

**

*

White clover

Trifolium repens

**

***

Red clover

Trifolium pretense

*

**

Vetch fava

Vicia sativa

*

*

* *

*

***** ****

** **

*

The number of asterisk (*) in each cell represents the number (in each column) of respondents for the specific ingredients in each site: eight farmers in Ipeúna (SP), eight in Tapejara (RS), and five in Quatro Barras (PR). Source: data compiled from this research after farmers’ opinion

ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) were suggested by two farmers out of eight. In Quatro Barras, oat was proposed by all farmers while rye (Secale cereale) was also suggested by four out of five.

Discussion Perspectives for innovative production systems Even a modest contribution provided by herbage on the nutrient supply of broilers is important given that feed

accounts for at least 70 % of the variable costs of poultry production (Walker and Gordon 2003) and represents a higher share in free-range systems due to longer periods of growth. It is also important to know the impact of broiler type. Thus, slow-growing broilers spend considerably more time outside than fast-growing broilers (Kjaer and Mench 2003) and this influences foraging behavior (Nielsen et al. 2003). In practice, it is important for the farmers to know the value of the different types of ingredients available in the range as a means of nutrient supplementation for the flocks depending on the production system. Feed conversion rate is generally impaired


in slow-growing broilers due to the proportionally higher maintenance requirement when foraging compared with growth. Free-range production is typically based on a substantially higher slaughter age (Table 3) and weight— aspects that are expected to impair feed conversion. If part of this additional feed requirement can be supplied with herbage and other feed items like living organisms, this may improve the profitability of the system (Walker and Gordon 2003). The practice of exercise, scratching, and searching for feed ingredients in the range combined with age and genetic background of broilers (Castellini et al. 2008) may give a differentiation in quality, i.e., tenderness, taste, and aroma (Horsted et al. 2010b, 2012). Farmers in this study also reported this as major advantages in production as suggested by Owens et al. (2006) and by Delpech et al. (1983). Even though farmers were representing two very different production systems, they agreed that the final part of the broiler growing period was the most important part for reducing dependence on maize and soy and thus production costs. However, growing crops in the outdoor runs will involve at least labor and availability of labor was mentioned as a limitation in production. We discussed with farmers about integration strategies, other crops, and livestock species to benefit from possible synergistic effects in the economical aspect of reducing production costs. Half (four out of eight) of farmers in Ipeúna suggested that broilers in their systems could not go outdoors. Perhaps, the necessity to follow standard procedures in biosecurity inhibited farmers to suggest free-range options for intensive production systems. For the other four farmers in the same group, integration with outdoor areas would be possible but it would be necessary to change farming system or at least to adapt chicken houses and genotypes. In their opinion, chicken runs could be associated with eucalyptus trees with broilers managed side by side and/or after cattle grazing in between the eucalyptus trees. The production of wood is economically relevant regionally, and is also used internally during winter for heating the broiler house. Beef cattle were cited, but goats or sheep were also mentioned due to small size of farms. In Tapejara, perhaps due to the knowhow in the production and processing of fruits, half of farmers suggested the use of agroforestry systems, integrating fruits, trees for wood, and livestock. Three out of eight suggested dairy integrated with broilers as they would not compete for the same sources of food. However, farmers were preoccupied with the necessity of

maintaining opened fields (for mechanized practices) for the production of grains and cereals suggesting a limitation for such intervention. Most of the farmers in Quatro Barras proposed that integrating broilers with horses, cows, and/or sheep under the shade of fruit trees would be an innovative approach. Perspectives for the future of alternative broiler systems in Brazil According to farmers in Ipeúna, the use of ethanolic extracts in water to control diseases would be practical and affordable to be implemented at farm level that could improve feed efficiency. In intensive systems, the main challenge remains to adapt the production system—by searching for inputs to be substituted—like feed resources proposed with special attention to cassava meal and sorghum. Hybrid, more robust genotypes to substitute fast-growing broilers was also a question and a challenge for the broiler company. A list of vegetal species suggested by farmers as feed resources and species that could be used in forage areas to supplement part of the nutritional needs and protection against predators was presented and deserves further investigation based on the different locations. The production of slowgrowing broilers in Tapejara and in Quatro Barras would benefit if farmers improve nutritional management in the finishing period. The provision of higher amounts of roughage and other feed ingredients could be a strategy associated with the use of movable houses to support farmers in the reduction of the dependence on maize and soy. If more holistic systems are targeted, integration with fruits and ruminants could be an opportunity and it would be in accordance with the ideals and principles of organic farming. However, it could be more complex and apparently less profitable as it would demand more labor. Farmers in the south (Parana and Rio Grande do Sul) were satisfied with the used genotypes (slow-growing). Options to reduce production costs are necessary and targeting the high costs of dietary nontransgenic ingredients associated to a reduction of slaughter age (to approximately 70 days of age as regulation for freerange broilers allows) could be a practical option with short-term response for the farmers. Alternative ingredients reported in this study can be part of further investigations not only in Brazil. In conclusion, research in alternative feed ingredients and management strategies to support free-range broiler production are demanded.

Author's personal copy Org. Agr. Acknowledgments The authors wish to thank the farmers for receiving the group of scientists during this research. Lew Springer and Fabiola Ribeiro from the Federal University of Parana and the technicians Marcio Saatkamp and Levino Bassi from EMBRAPA are thanked for the support with the logistics and visits and also for applying part of the surveys in the south (PR and RS, respectively). Evandro Possamai, from Korin agropecuaria Ltd., is thanked for the logistical and technical support during the field work in the state of Sao Paulo. Aarhus University and Research School for Organic Agriculture and Food Systems (SOAR) are thanked for financing our study. We finally thank anonymous referees and Professor Tor Arvid Breland from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) and Dr. Veronika Maurer, Head of Research Group at FiBL, for the important comments and suggestions to improve the quality of this manuscript.

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