Pasture-raised prototype
Gabriel Jimenez, from Puerto Rico, and Tamita Brown, from Jamaica, are a dedicated Caribbean couple who collaboratively own and operate 74 acres of farmland in Wilkes County, Georgia.
Together, they have transformed their lush land into Caribe United Farm, a pasture-raised site for poultry and pork. Their deep respect for animals and the environment drives their commitment to minimizing stress, allowing animals to roam and forage freely, experience sunlight and feel the earth beneath their feet.
The mission of Caribe United Farm is to provide consumers with high-quality, organic, non-GMO meat and eggs that reflect their dedication to humane animal care. As a small-scale , pasture-raised poultry producer in one of Georgia’s largest agricultural sectors, their work stands out.
Currently, the couple is focusing on producing pasture-raised eggs, recognizing the difficulty of high production costs and competing with the low prices of meat produced by large-scale commercial farms. However, their hens are given the same care as any bird on the farm, reflecting Caribe United Farm’s commitment to ethical, sustainable farming.
UGA initiates first trial on pasture-raised farming research
Georgia is known as a leading poultry producing state, a status partly attributed to research conducted at the University of Georgia. As one of six universities with a poultry science department, UGA provides valuable insights.
Prafulla Regmi, an assistant professor at The University of Georgia specializing in the physiological understanding of bird well-being, is advancing research on pasture-raised poultry.
“In terms of pasture-raised research, we are still quite new,” Regmi said. “We have only completed one project.”
The research, conducted on a pasture in Ball Ground, Georgia, used four mobile coops that were moved daily to observe how pasture conditions affect bird growth and welfare. Within the coops, two flocks were raised and analyzed: Cornish Cross, a fast-growing commercial breed reaching about 3.5 kilograms in 56 days, and Freedom Rangers, a slower-growing breed reaching the same weight in approximately 77 days.
“The idea was to see, by giving them some extra days; a longer time to grow, are they going to have some better welfare outcomes?” Regmi said.
Regmi said one cause for scrutiny in commercial broiler production is the increasing lack of mobility in these large chickens as they continue to grow. Regmi’s team aimed to determine if offering the incentive of pasture would encourage the birds to be more active and counter issues with lameness, footpad dermatitis and bone fractures.
The pasture trial both highlighted and challenged aspects of pasture farming. The attempt to control the uncontrollable — the environment — is difficult. While birds can forage for worms, insects, plants and more, which can enhance an egg’s flavor and color profile, they become susceptible to unpredictable factors, such as internal parasites like roundworms and soil pathogens like E. coli.
With indoor production, farmers are able to control the temperature, humidity, lighting and amount of feed which optimizes consistent bird growth. This comes at the cost of mobility and natural behavior.
Pasture-raised poultry research is still in an adolescent stage. In the coming weeks, the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association, a nonprofit advocating for pasture-raised poultry as a more sustainable and humane farming approach, will introduce its first set of guidelines for pasture-raised poultry. Currently, there are no standards for the number of birds allowed or the space required.
Regmi plans to execute another pasture-raised experiment in the coming year. This time, Regmi plans to focus some of the research on diet and probiotic use within multiple flocks.
UGA’s extensive poultry science department
Nada Tamim, undergraduate program director for the University of Georgia’s Poultry Science Department, explained how the program is designed to meet industry demands by equipping students with knowledge and hands-on experience for their future roles in the field.
Students begin with introductory poultry science courses that offer hands-on experiences, from raising and dissecting birds to processing them, providing insight into each stage of poultry production. These are followed by genetics classes, nutrition courses that teach students how to formulate diets and design feed, and a production course where students can visit different farms and raise flocks..
The program also emphasizes animal welfare, with a dedicated class that allows students to “look at different case studies and look at how to better improve the welfare of birds that are grown within the industry,” Tamim said.
Researchers also benefit from UGA’s poultry housing facilities, where they can set up prototypes tailored to specific studies. These facilities allow researchers, and their students, to manage flocks and experiment with housing and management practices to optimize chicken production.
