Omnivore's Dilemma: Ch. 11
Finally, a producer of not only chickens, but cows, hogs, rabbits, and turkeys that does it old natural way. Not only does Polyface Farms raise its animals without using any chemicals such as pesticides and antibiotics, they are also extremely cost-efficient. Every animal they raise at the farm helps each other in growing the best possible way they could. For instance, chickens graze the grasslands of Polyface daily (different parts of the farm each day) to reap the benefits of the vitamins and minerals in the greens and to fertilize the soil with their manure. The highly nitrogenous chicken manure allows Polyface to be completely self-sufficient in nitrogen, a large cost that is saved. Usually efficiency refers to doing things in a more concise, simpler way, but at Polyface their efficiency comes from "complexity and interdependence." The species help each other out; for instance chicken eggs are produced by cow manure and beef is produced through the chicken's secretions thus eliminating the use of chemicals. The chickens also help out the rabbits as well. At Polyface they have Raken Houses (Raken = half rabbit, half chicken and no it's not a genetically engineered animal). The rabbits live in cages above some hens on a bedding of woodchips in these houses. Rabbits have powerful ammonia-filled urine which is usually a large problem with raising rabbits indoors. However, the hens scratching away at these woodchips somehow turns the rabbit urine into a carbonaceous bedding which in turn creates a rich compost with earthworms that the hens eat. Quite an interesting phenomenon.
The Salatin family at Polyface Farms are today's innovators in raising farm animals. By raising several types of animals they are able to produce chemical-free food and still reduce costs. It's incredible how they are completely organic and extremely efficient at the same time. Who knew that chicken and cow manure and rabbit urine could turn into beneficial materials for the other animals around them. In many ways disgusting, but that's food science, isn't it? Different animals living together in harmony and not knowing how their actions are benefiting the other animals. Truly amazing.
1. What sort of chemical reaction takes place between the chicken's scratching of the woodchips and the rabbit's urine that earthworms are born from this newly created compost?
2. What is it in the chickens' manure that keeps the soil so fertile?
Yea I was amazed by the thought processes behind food science. It made me think differently of farmers and the people who produce our food. It seems unfair that these people are the ones who are often considered the non-capable or unintelligent.
ReplyDeleteI think you bring up some really great points in this response especially pertaining to the idea that everything is connected in this production chain. You mention that the chicken eggs are used to produce the cow manure and so on, and I think this is an extremely important aspect of a food chain. I think in general it is important that animals have relationships in the food chain rather than having each animal completely separate using chemicals to raise them.
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