Pasture Patterns (Prairie Bluff Farms)
| Rating |  |
| Farm/Brand Headquarters | Mount Horeb, WI |
| Website | www.prairieblufffarm.com |
| Market Area | Madison, WI |
| Total Score | 2310 |
They write: “Throughout the spring thru fall pasturing season, our hens are kept on fresh certified organic pasture which they consume with great enthusiasm. The vitamin rich forage, supplemented with a balanced mix of organic grains and minerals, creates a nutritious egg high in vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids.”
“During the colder months, the hens are sheltered in passive solar hoop buildings providing warmth and natural light. They roam freely throughout the structure and organic alfalfa meal is added to the grain. As we enjoy dried foods saved from the summer months, the alfalfa meal is like supplementing dried pasture. The birds like it and the egg yolks seem to darken a shade from the added nutrition.”
“We enjoy our birds and are committed to caring for them in a humane manner while producing a high quality egg delivered fresh to you. We hope that you will see and taste the difference a little grass and sunshine can make.”
| Criteria | Points | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| TOTAL (possible score is 2600) | 2310 | 5-Egg Rating | Top Rated |
Family farms and farmer cooperatives that market their own eggs receive the most points. Corporations that do not produce any eggs receive the fewest points.
Ownership Structure | 100 | family farm, produces all of its own eggs |
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Flocks of 500 birds or fewer receive the most points based on Animal Welfare Approved standards.
Average Flock Size | 100 | 60 birds per pen |
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Single henhouses receive the most points.
Single or Double Henhouses | 100 | single |
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Animal Welfare Approved and Biodynamic certifications receive the most bonus points. Producers are not penalized for not having additional certifications beyond organic.
Other Certifications (bonus points) | 100 | Real Organic Project certified |
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Points determined by integrity of the brand’s organic certifier.
Organic Certifier | 100 | MOSA |
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Farms that are 100% certified organic receive the most points, farms/brands that are split conventional and organic receive fewer points.
Commitment to Organics | 100 | 100% organic farm |
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More than 1.8 square feet per bird receives the most points, less than 1.2 square feet receives the fewest.
Indoor Space per Bird | 100 | 2-3 sq ft/henÊ |
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Farms with perches, scratching areas and deep litter or year round pasture receive the most points. Indoor Enrichments | 100 | perches, dust baths, litter (in winter housing), full pasture access |
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Farms that freshen litter weekly receive the most points. Litter Management | 100 | freshen every other day in winter, in summer on full pasture |
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Farms that ensure birds have ample access to outdoors during daylight hours receive the most points.
Natural Light | 100 | on pasture in summer, in translucent hoophouses in winter |
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Farms that ensure 108 square feet per bird or more outdoors receive the most points.
Outdoor Space per Bird | 70 | 10-15 sq ft/hen |
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Farms that ensure birds are in mobile housing or 1 large door per 75 birds receive the most points.
Popholes/Exit to the Outdoors | 100 | birds kept on pasture in mobile housing, in winter entire length of building is open a couple feet high |
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Farms that ensure birds have access to feed, water and shade outdoors receive the most points. Outdoor Enrichments | 60 | shade |
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Farms that can ensure outdoor access year round or those that only confine birds during inclement weather receive the most points.
Outdoor Space Exemptions | 70 | confined seasonally |
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Farms that use mobile housing rotated on pasture every 1-2 days or weekly receive the most points.
Outdoor Management System | 90 | rotated daily with mobile housing in the summer, fixed housing in winter |
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Farms that recycle chicken manure on the farm, using it for fertilizer, without causing nutrient pollution, receive the most points.
Manure Handling System | 100 | manure recycled on farm, used to grow grass or vegetables |
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Farms that never force molting receive the most points. Forced Molting | 100 | no forced molting |
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Farms that never trim or tip beaks receive the most points.
Beak Trimming | 70 | prio r to 10 days old |
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Farms where hens live an average of 3+ years or 1.6-3 years receive the most points.
Laying Hen Lifespan | 60 | 18 months old |
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Farms where spent hens die a natural death, are sold for meat, or are processed and sold for human consumption, receive the most points.
Use of Spent Hens | 100 | sold live or butchered for home use |
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Farms where the death loss rate of hens is less than 3% annually receive the most points.
Death Loss Rate | 100 | less than 2% |
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Farms that breed and incubate their own chicks, or raise their own pullets, receive the most points.
Pullets | 40 | Êpurchase ready-to-lay pullets |
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Farms that allow pullets access to the outdoors within the first 6 weeks of life, or within 6-10 weeks, receive the most points.
Pullet Access to Outdoors | 40 | around 18-19 weeks old |
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Farms where all feed is produced on the farm receive the most points.
Feed Produced on Farm | 50 | just pasture |
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Farms where 100% of the feed is grown in the US or Canada receive the most points.
US Grown Feed | 100 | buy local feed, request no foreign soy |
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No points are given for this but the information may be useful to certain consumers looking to avoid soy. Soy in Feed | Yes | soy in feed ration |
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Farms that do not feed synthetic amino acids receive the most points. Synthetic Amino Acids | 70 | No more than 2 lbs per ton |
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Farms that participated in Cornucopia’s research providing full transparency receive the most points.
Disclosure Rate | 90 | some photos, not a full set |
