WASHINGTON, DC — The Union of Concerned Scientists has released a report that shows how pasture-raised pork, chicken, and egg production can avoid the problems conventional production poses for water and air quality and animal and public health. The report also explains the definitions, standards, and label claims for pasture-raised foods that consumers encounter at grocery stores.
“Producing pork, chicken, and eggs on pasture is a winning proposition for all involved,” said report author Dr. Kate Clancy, senior scientist in the Food and Environment Program at UCS. “Farmers win, consumers win, the environment wins, and even the animals win.”
Greener Eggs and Ham: The Benefits of Pasture-Raised Swine, Poultry, and Egg Production provides an overview of alternative pork and chicken production systems and is a complementary report to UCS’s Greener Pastures, which describes the benefits of grass-fed beef and dairy cattle.
Most conventional production of swine, poultry, and eggs in this country is done in large confined operations in which animals are fed grain-based diets, given no access to pasture, and fed antibiotics to prevent disease and accelerate growth. These confined or concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) pose environmental, animal health, and public health hazards due to the enormous quantities of manure produced in these operations and the large number of animals raised in close quarters.
Well-managed pasture systems can minimize environmental damage to soil, air, and water, and build soil fertility. Animals that can engage in natural behaviors outside as opposed to being crowded indoors tend to be healthier and need fewer antibiotics, which reduces the rate of antibiotic resistance in food-borne bacteria.
“Pasture-raised systems that work with nature avoid the hazards that come with conventional methods,” said Clancy. “Pasture-raised production is the optimal way to meet consumers’ desires for tasty, environmentally friendly food and to change the agricultural landscape in a very positive way.”
The Union of Concerned Scientists web page can be found at: http://www.ucsusa.org/
