SYSTEM OF PRODUCTION LAYING HENS OF POSTURE IN FREE-RANGE: FINANCIAL VIABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Abstract

Poultry farming has been one of the most important livestock productions in Colombia and the world, as well as one of the most dynamic and promising sectors in Latin America. Currently, the poultry industry consists of different alternatives for breeding and exploitation, the intensive method being one of the most used by production efficiency when operating at a high stocking density; however, this success has been achieved at the expense of the health and welfare of the animals involved in obtaining the egg. As an alternative, the production in free-grazing with creole breed hens is booming both due to the growing demand for the pasture-raised egg and the interest of society in the welfare of the producing birds. In addition to this, many advantages of this system have been found against others, such as a stress-free environment with the possibility of expressing the natural behavior of animals, reducing behavioral problems such as mutual aggressiveness or fear of the manager, lower production costs, better nutrition by increasing the quantity and quality of available food resources, among others. Despite these benefits, it should be mentioned that the type of farming hen does not imply substantial differences in the nutritional composition of the egg. It must be taken into account that a correct production process, in any of the mentioned systems, guarantees the nutritional quality and safety of the egg for its consumption. This article focuses on the poultry farming of laying hens in free-grazing with emphasis on their economic viability and the exploration of their benefits and sustainable advantages over intensive systems.