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Range Care Standards
- Eggs
Free Range Meat Bird Standards
Candling, Grading, Storage & Transport
Standards
Egg Room Standards
Free Range Breeders and Hatchery
Standards
RANGE
CARE STANDARDS - EGGS - As at 30th March, 2008
THESE STANDARDS ARE TO ENSURE THAT THE CONSUMER
RECEIVES A QUALITY FREE RANGE PRODUCT.
1. When fully feathered, in accordance
with the current edition of the Victorian Code of Accepted
Farming Practice for the Welfare of Poultry, birds must
have easy access to an area on which to range during
daylight hours.
2. The land where birds are permitted
to range must have shade, shelter and palatable vegetation
3. The range area must be capable
of continued production of vegetation.
4. The maximum range density is 750 birds per hectare
at 25 DSE [300/acre at 10 DSE]
5. The stocking density in a shed
is measured over a single horizontal plane [length by
width] and shall be no more than:
-
10 birds per square metre up to 1000 birds
-
09 birds per square metre up to 2500 birds
-
08 birds per square metre up to 3000 birds
-
07 birds per square metre up to 4000 birds
-
06 birds per square metre over 4000 birds
6. Hens must have permanent access
to adequate shade and protection, weather-proof shelter
with ventilation, adequate dry litter [static sheds],
food, fresh water, nesting boxes and perches in accordance
with the current edition of the Victorian Code of Accepted
Farming Practice for the Welfare of Poultry.
7. When artificial lighting is used,
the combination of natural and artificial lighting must
not exceed fifteen hours in any twenty-four hour period.
8. Natural foods only are permitted
with the addition of vitamins and minerals as required
for the birds’ welfare.
9. Only natural pigment containing
foods or natural yolk colour may be fed to enrich yolk
colour.
10. Only on veterinary direction is
use of antibiotics or other medications permitted.
11. Purposely inducing moulting, by
not feeding is not permitted.
12. Toe trimming, de-snooding and
the use of ‘poly peepers’ is not permitted.
13. A reasonable attempt must be made
to protect hens from predators at all times.
14. All eggs must be candled and handled
in accordance with the Shell Egg Code.
15. All farms shall have an audit
system in place for their produce, which complies with
Range Care.
16. All birds are to be transported
in accordance with Land Transport Code.
17. All birds to be vaccinated in
accordance with Livestock Disease Control Act.
18. All farms to comply with Biosecurity
Code of Practice.
19. All eggs to be sold in accordance
with Food Act.
20. Beak trimming to be done in accordance
with Egg Industry Accreditation Program.
21. The Board, may at its discretion,
allow a producer to deviate from the above standards,
for an agreed time period, in the interest of research
which is supervised by a reputable scientific organisation,
and reported to the Board at agreed dates.
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FREPA
FREE RANGE MEAT BIRD STANDARDS - As at 30 March 2008
THESE STANDARDS WERE FORMED TO CREATE A NON-STRESSFUL
ENVIRONMENT FOR THE BIRDS
1.
When fully feathered, in accordance with the
current edition of the Victorian
Code of Accepted Farming Practice for the Welfare of
Poultry, or other states codes of poultry practice,
birds must have easy access to an area on which to range
during daylight hours.
2.
The land where birds are permitted to range
must have shade, shelter and sustainable palatable vegetation.
3. The range area must be capable
of continued production of vegetation.
4. Birds must have access to clean,
dry food and fresh water, in accordance with the Victorian
Code of Accepted Farming Practice for the Welfare of
Poultry.
5.
The stocking density in a shed must not exceed 28 kgs
of live birds per square metre of floor space, unless
there is mechanical ventilation. Where there is mechanical
ventilation, 30kgs per metre of floor space is acceptable.
6. Continuous dim lighting may be
used when it benefits the welfare of the birds.
7. Natural foods only are permitted
with the addition of vitamins and minerals as required
for the birds’ welfare.
8. Only under veterinary direction
are antibiotics or other medications permitted. Treated
birds must not be sold as Free Range.
9. Growth promoting hormones are not
permitted.
10. Beak trimming, toe trimming, de-snooding
or any other mutilation is not permitted.
11. A reasonable attempt must be made
to protect birds from predators at all times.
12.
Housing, equipment, ventilation, temperature and health
practices must be in accordance with the Victorian Code
of Accepted Farming Practice for the Welfare of Poultry
or other states' poultry welfare codes of practice.
13. Slaughtering must comply with
the current Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of
Animals, Livestock and Poultry and Slaughtering Establishments
[Abattoirs, Slaughterhouses and Knackeries].
14. All birds are to be transported
in accordance with the Land Transport Code.
15. All birds are to be vaccinated
in accordance with the Livestock Disease Control Act.
16.
All farms must comply with appropriate sections of the
National Chicken Meat Industry Biosecurity Code of Practice.
17. The Board, may
at its discretion, allow a producer to deviate from
the above standards, for an agreed time period, in the
interest of research which is supervised by a reputable
scientific organisation and reported to the Board at
agreed dates.
18.
Flock size will not exceed 150,000 birds.
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CANDLING, GRADING, STORAGE
& TRANSPORT STANDARDS
SHELL - Clean, free from cracks, unstained,
not thin-shelled nor out of shape or leaking.
YOLKS - Translucent or faintly visible.
WHITES – Translucent and firm
YOLK COLOUR – no synthetic colourings,
only natural pigment containing foods.
AIR CELL – less than 0.5cm depth.
INTERNAL – no blood or meat
spots, moulds, rots or eggs which are fertile.
CLEANING – dry cleaning. No
damp cleaning. Washing may only be done in an approved
egg washing machine in accordance with the Shell Egg
Code.
GRADING – weights must be checked
regularly. Eggs and cartons must comply with Trade Measurement
Act.
STORAGE – in a cool room at
between 12-16C and 65–78% humidity.
TRANSPORT – in a suitable vehicle
in accordance with Shell Egg Code and below 16C.
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EGG ROOM STANDARDS
GENERAL – room must be kept
clean and tidy and used only for eggs and egg packaging.
No animals are allowed in room. The equipment must be
clean and in good working order.
PESTS – rooms to be rodent and
insect proofed in accordance with the Shell Egg Code.
COOL ROOM – made from sound
and impervious materials and in operation mode whenever
there are eggs in it. The room should run at a temperature
range of 12-16C and 65-78% humidity.
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FREPA
FREE RANGE BREEDERS AND HATCHERY STANDARDS - As at 30
March 2008
THESE STANDARDS WERE FORMED TO CREATE A NON-STRESSFUL
ENVIRONMENT FOR THE BIRDS
1. Breeders must have easy access
to an area on which to range during daylight hours.
2. The land where birds are permitted
to range must have shade, shelter and palatable vegetation.
A natural green feed supplement may be given as necessary.
3. The maximum range density is 3000kgs
of live birds/hectare at 25DSE [1200kgs of livebirds/acre
at 10DSE]
4. The maximum shed density should
be 1000kgs live weight birds per unit [mobile or static].
5. Birds must have permanent access
to clean, dry food, fresh water in accordance with the
current Victorian Code of Accepted Farming Practice
for the Welfare of Poultry.
6. Where artificial lighting is used
a combination of natural and artificial lighting must
not exceed fifteen hours in any twenty four hour period.
7. Natural foods only are permitted
with the addition of vitamins and minerals as required
for the birds’ welfare.
8. Only on veterinary direction is
use of antibiotics or other medications permitted.
9. Purposely inducing moulting, by
not feeding is not permitted
10. Toe trimming, de-snooding is not
permitted.
11. All farms must comply with appropriate
sections of the Chicken Meat Industry Biosecurity Code
of Practice
12. A reasonable attempt must be made
to protect hens from predators at all times.
13. Housing, equipment, ventilation,
temperature and health practices must be in accordance
with the current Victorian Code of Accepted Farming
Practice for the Welfare of Poultry.
14. Fertile eggs are to be stored
between 10 – 18 degrees Celsius.
15. All breeders must be tested salmonella
pullorum free.
16. Hatchery must be registered with
DPI and comply with the Live Stock Disease Control Act
1994
17. Culled and surplus hatchlings
must be disposed of, in accordance with the current
Victorian Code of Accepted Farming Practice for the
Welfare of Poultry.
18. All birds are to be transported
in accordance with Land Transport Code.
19. All birds to be vaccinated in
accordance with Livestock Disease Control Act
20. All farms must comply with appropriate
sections of the Chicken Meat Industry Biosecurity Code
of Practice.
21. The Board, may at its discretion,
allow a producer to deviate from the above standards,
for an agreed time period, in the interest of research
which is supervised by a reputable scientific organisation,
and reported to the Board at agreed dates.
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