The Soil Associations organic certification of table birds currently allows the use of up to 20 percent non-organic component in the feed ration. In August 2005 this derogation will be removed, and ration will be required to be 100 per organic. As some ingredients used within the 20 per cent non-organic component of the current ration are not available from an organic source, there is a worry that this change will therefore impact on the nutritional quality of the ration. This impact on nutritional quality, particularly the protein levels, of the ration may therefore result in poor animal health and welfare, as well as impacting upon performance, yield and quality of the final product, and hence the finances of the system.
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