by Rick Kleyn, SPESFEED (Pty) Ltd

Producers are looking at alternative ways of producing eggs

All enriched cages must include a nest, a litter area, perches a surface area of 750 cm2/bird and a specified height.

Alternative eggs would include eggs which have had their nutrient profile enriched in some way (omega 3 and vitamins), barn eggs, free range eggs and lastly organic eggs.

Last year I visited the UK with Bill van Lelyveld of Leitch Nomndeni, specifically to investigate alternative egg production systems. During this talk I will pass on some of my findings and impressions.

My overall impression was that we are going "back to the future". There are some major differences though. Firstly, flock sizes are far bigger than they were 50 years ago. Secondly, the bird (genotype) that we are working with makes life far more difficult than it was. Some of the production figures being achieved are excellent, but good stockmanship, more than any other ingredient would appear to be the key to success.

Free Range Production

Free-range production is growing rapidly in the UK.

The basic rules to qualify for the use of the term "Free Range" are simple and broadly comprise the following:

There are numerous other rules regarding such matters as feed and watering, lighting, inspection of stock and equipment etc. However, none are unduly onerous and the majority would fall within the definition of "Good Stock Husbandry".

The facilities that we saw being used to produce alternative eggs varied from "Arks" in a meadow, through to converted intensive housing and purpose built "barn" and free-range housing.

Barn Egg Production

Birds housed in houses (not cages) produce barn eggs but they do not have access to the outdoors. As with free range birds the current recommended stocking density is 12 birds /m2 with a proposal that this should be reduced to 9 birds/m

The cost of producing eggs in "enriched" housing is high.

Organic Eggs

Organic eggs are the most difficult eggs to produce.

The aim of the organic movement is to further Best Practice" in the management of animal health and welfare and to achieve this through appropriate diets and good stockmanship. This would minimize the use of undesirable chemicals.

One of the key principals of the organic movement would be to produce eggs on integrated farms where the majority of the inputs required are at home grown and organic.

This idea has some flaws. Firstly, very few integrated farmers still exist. Secondly, in order to grow enough grain, we would need about 10 Ha per 1000 birds housed.

Some of the new EU standards which will apply from August 2000-01-12

Pullet Rearing – conventional until 18 weeks of age

Hen conversion (6 weeks on organic food)

Layer density (inside) 6 birds/m2

Maximum flock size 3000 birds

Nests 1 per 8 hens

Perches 18 cm per hen

Allowed to feed synthetic amino acids

Allowed to feed synthetic vitamins

Feed – organic content 80% (min 77.5%)

Africa may have an advantage here as many of the eggs that we produce are organic.

In the UK organic eggs are sold for some 300% more than caged bird eggs. ( p/dozen)

In the UK the vast majority of people who are prepared to pay the premium for organic eggs do so because they feel that organic eggs are safe and healthy. Very few people mention hen welfare.

Top

Nutritional Enriched Eggs

As consumers become more health conscious so they increasingly seek out healthier alternatives to traditional food. These ""functional" foods would include such products as vitamin enriched Mealie Meal and high protein bread. Surveys have shown however, that consumers will not accept products in which flavour is altered.

Eggs are a perfect product for enriching as it is widely known that we can alter egg composition through dietary change. An area that human nutritionists are concerned about is that the average person consumes too few "healthy" omega -3 fatty acids. Fish are known to be rich in omega -3 acids and in countries where fish consumption is high it has been shown that the incidence of heart related illness is greatly diminished.

One of the most important, yet most limiting omega three fatty acid in human diets is docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA plays a unique role in eye and brain function. 60% of all fat in the human eye is DHA where it aids in visual sharpness, while 40% of the unsaturated fat in the brain is also DHA where it is though to assist with learning skills and emotional balance.

Many vegetable products are known to be rich in omega-3 fatty acids, including Soya bean and it’s oil and perhaps most importantly flax seed (linseed) and its oil. By feeding laying hens diets rich in flaxseed it is possible to increase the level of omega-3 acids in the egg.

Flaxseed is rich in linoleic acid, which is known to have health benefits for the skin and to some extent the heart. Linoleic acid is also the precursor of DHA in both man and the chicken.

However, the conversion rate of linoleic acid to DHA is limited, and the feeding of flaxseed alone results in only marginal increases in DHA in the egg.

Marine algae are known to be the original source of DHA in the food chain and an American company called OmegaTech Inc. have recently developed a commercial product based on a golden algae rich in DHA. This is being marketed as an alternative to the use of fish oil in the diet.

The pioneer work in developing the commercial "designer" egg was carried out by an Australian, Dr David Farrell. Dr Farrell enriched eggs by feeding laying hens a combination of edible vegetable and fish oils. In addition he developed a patented product known as OLPB which eliminates any fishy taint in the egg. Not only was Dr Farrell able to show that there was an increase in omega-3 acids (700%), but there was also a decline in the cholesterol content of the eggs.

The rights to Dr Farrell’s patent in Southern Africa are owned by a Gauteng based egg producer who has a marketing agreement with the Highveld Egg Co-op. The Co-op owns the "New Start" brand and in addition they have registered the "Omega-3" enriched brand.

The situation as set out above does not preclude any other producer from using another method of enriching eggs and marketing them under their own brand names. However, the claims that are being made are health claims and as such any egg product that claims to be nutritionally enriched needs to be approved by the Department of Health.

In order to do this the claims made must be proven and guaranteed. At present the Foodtech Division of the CSIR is the only organisation in the country that can certify that the claims regarding egg enrichment are valid. For this reason any producer who wishes to promote his own brand of enriched eggs would have to work through the CSIR.

Grain Fed "Eggs"

"Grain Fed" eggs are widely marketed in Europe and are increasingly being sold in South Africa. These are eggs that have been produced by birds being fed diets free of any animal proteins. In reality most eggs produced in South Africa are grain fed.

Marketing of Alternative Eggs

The correct marketing of alternative eggs is the key to success. Unfortunately, consumers need some sort of guarantees that they are eating what they think that they are buying. Here South Africa has a poor track record.

The marketing of eggs produced under alternative production systems in the UK was of great interest. We visited three supermarket chains to look at their egg displays. Candidly, they were no better or worse than anything we have in South Africa. However, the claims that are made about the different types of eggs are controlled and defined under the Egg Marketing Regulations (EMRs), administered by the MAFF Egg Inspectorate. In reality, an additional "Freedom Food" standard, as administered by the RSPCA, has encompassed all the EMR requirements and added to them. This has become the standard by which most free-range eggs are sold. The basic rules to qualify for the use of the term "Free Range" are explained above. Each farm is then inspected by the RSPCA on an annual basis to ensure that the standards are adhered to.

In Africa the consumer does not have the purchasing power to buy expensive eggs.

If you are not globally competitive, then a niche market does not stay as such for very long.

Remember to be ethical.

Conclusion

Producing alternative eggs may well be viable if you have an affluent target market.

Alternative forms of production come at a high capital cost and require a far higher degree of a management if they are to be successful.

You must remain competitive at all times, even within your own niche market.

You should be ethical and truthful in your packaging and marketing endeavours.