Pasture Patterns
Rating | |
Farm/Brand Headquarters | Mount Horeb, WI |
Website | https://www.prairieblufffarm.com/ |
Market Area | WI |
Total Score | 1410 |
Criteria | Points | Comment |
---|---|---|
TOTAL (possible score is 1700) | 1410 | 5-egg |
Brands that have close daily control over their egg production receive the most points. Ownership Structure | 100 | Single farm sourcing |
Brands that only produce organic products make the biggest investments — in time and money — in systems that benefit us all. Eggs sourced from a single operation receive the most points. Eggs of unclear origins and/or with poor oversight receives the fewest points. Commitment to Organic Label | 100 | Highly committed to organic label |
Additional certifications, depending on the credibility of the label, can demonstrate a commitment beyond the organic standards. Other Labels and Standards | 0 | None |
Smaller flock sizes (the number of laying hens per housing structure) offer better animal welfare conditions. Flock Size(s) | 100 | Small flock sizes, well below 500 birds during pasture season |
The best housing offers space for natural behaviors and legitimate access to the outdoors through adequate exits. Hen Housing and Exit Areas | 100 | Mobile housing with rotated pasture during summer, hens have legitimate outdoor access (fixed barns during winter) |
Adequate indoor spacing reduces stress and disease. With less crowding, birds can stretch their wings and more easily perform other natural behaviors. Indoor Spacing | 100 | 1.75-2 square feet per bird; hens have ample room to perform natural behaviors year-round |
High scoring brands provide enough space to allow each hen to fully utilize their outdoor area, and to perform instinctive behaviors without harming the environment. Outdoor Spacing | 100 | 4+ square feet per bird in mobile coops; hens have ample room to perform natural behaviors |
High quality outdoor access includes vegetation, soil, and ample opportunities to forage year-round. Quality of Outdoor Access | 100 | Excellent outdoor-access quality with access to the outdoors even during winter weather, maintains 100% vegetation with rotation |
Birds that are introduced to the outdoors early are more accustomed to spending time outdoors without fear or stress. Outdoor Access Timing | 60 | Given outdoor access as soon as pullets come on-farm |
Year-round access to perches, scratching areas, deep litter, novel foodstuffs, and dust bathing contribute to quality of life. Enrichments | 100 | Many enrichments are provided indoors and outdoors along with legitimate outdoor access |
Chickens use their beaks to interact with the world. Authentic organic farmers account for this behavior, eschewing beak trimming. Alterations | 70 | Beak trimmed at hatchery; no forced molting allowed |
Raising chicks on farm or buying them from certified organic hatcheries shows dedication to organic production from start to finish. Chicks and Pullets | 40 | Brand purchases certified organic ready-to-lay pullets |
Brands that have low rates of deaths and utilize their spent hens for human consumption or similar score the highest. Deaths, Culls, and Spent Hens | 90 | Death rate below 5%, spent hens sold live or as stew hens |
Brands that closely monitor and manage health of soil, native species, and water quality receive the most points. Environmental Impacts | 90 | Very long pasture rotation (3-4 years), manure used as on-farm fertility and composted, steps taken for environmental sustainability |
Feed Sourcing | 75 | Obtains feed from organic supplier that distributes locally, attests to 100% domestic sourcing |
Brands that score well here go above and beyond to ensure the highest animal welfare, taking into consideration their hens’ safety and cleanliness, natural behavior, and stress levels. Animal Welfare | 85 | Excellent animal welfare benchmark |
Cornucopia believes you have a right to transparency. Top brands share information with Cornucopia via a survey and cooperate with our own independent investigations. Transparency | 100 | Full transparency |
Brands do not receive points, but this information is offered for people with soy and/or gluten allergies. Soy free and/or gluten free? | Not soy or gluten free | |
Brands do not receive points, but are invited to submit the name of their Accredited Organic Certifier (suppliers may have different certifiers). Organic Certifier (non-scoring) | MOSA | |
Extra credit is offered for various practices that go above-and-beyond in some form. Extra Credit | 0 | None |