Farmers Raise Thousands Of Chickens In The Desert For Eggs And Meat This Way
raising chickens in the desert is not for the faint of heart the heat is intense often soaring above 100° F during the day and the nights can be surprisingly cold water is scarce and the dry arid air can quickly dehydrate both animals and plants in the United States particularly in States like Arizona and Nevada Farmers have developed techniques that allow them to thrive in these environments they typically focus on raising breeds that are well suited to the desert climate such as the Easter eggar or white leghorn which are known for their hardiness and ability to thrive in hot conditions one of the first challenges they face is providing adequate shelter for the chickens a traditional Chicken cops needs significant modifications to be effective in the desert us Farmers often use insulated well ventilated CS in order to keep the birds cool the Cs are usually built with reflective materials on the roof to deflect sunlight and keep the interior temperature down in Australia particularly in the outback chicken Farmers combat these challenges with technology solar power systems are commonly used to provide energy for cooling systems water pumps and even automated feeders additionally many farms are equipped with Advanced monitoring systems that track the health and productivity of the chickens in real time allowing Farmers to make quick adjustments as needed these techniques are also used in Israel where chicken farming in the neav desert Blends modern technology with traditional BWI knowledge of the land ventilation is another critical Factor because without proper air flow the heat inside the coupe can become unbearable Farmers install large strategically placed windows and vents to ensure a constant breeze flows through the coupe keeping the chickens comfortable in more advanced setups Farmers may use evaporative cooling system where water is used to cool the air as it enters the coue water is perhaps the most precious resource in the desert and managing it effectively is key to successful chicken farming here in the US Farmers have turned to advanced irrigation and water recycling systems to make the most of every drop drip irrigation is commonly used to grow fod and other vegetation that the chickens can graze upon this method delivers water directly to the roots of the plants minimizing waste additionally Farmers collect and recycle water from the coup's cooling systems using it to irrigate crops or even cool the crops further rainwater harvesting is another technique that some farmers in the US employ in plastic tanks but here in India's th desert water is conserved using traditional methods such as joads a type of small Earth check Dam used to harvest rainwater by collecting rainwater during the brief but intense desert storms they can store it for use during the drier months Indian chicken farming is often done on a smaller scale and they typically raise indigenous breeds like the AAL these chickens are us usually free range foraging for food in the sparse desert vegetation in Saudi Arabia where the desert environment is amongst the harshest in the world water scarcity is a significant issue Farmers here use highly efficient water recycling systems and even desalinated water in order to meet the needs for their flocks feeding chickens in the desert presents its own set of unique challenges the Arid environment limits the types of crops that can be grown and traditional chicken feed may not be readily available however Farmers have adapted by growing Dr resistant crops that can thrive in desert conditions in the southwestern United States for example Farmers often grow sorum a grain that is highly resistant to drought and provides excellent nutrition for the chickens some Farmers also grow a type of cactus called prickly pear which is not only a source of food for the chickens but also provides them with hydration due to its high water content supplementing the chicken's diet with insects is another strategy used by desert Farmers insects like Mew worms which are easy to raise and rich in protein are a perfect addition to the chicken's diet the concept of free range chicken takes a whole new meaning in the desert unlike the Lush pastures of more temperate regions desert freerange areas are often spar with scattered vegetation however this does not mean that the chickens suffer in fact free ranging in the desert can be highly beneficial for both the chicken and the environment the chicken's natural natural behavior of scratching and digging helps to aate the soil which can improve the health of the desert ecosystem helping to control pests and promote biodiversity desert farming also brings unique challenges in terms of predators and other threats Hawks and coyotes are common in desert regions and can pose a significant risk to freerange chickens to protect their flocks Farmers employ a range of strategies from building secure fencing to using guard animals like dogs or even llamas in the US many farmers use portable CS that can be moved easily to different parts of the range this allows them to rotate the chicken grazing area while keeping them safe from predators some Farmers also use automated systems that detect predators and activate lights or alarms to scare them away the first step in processing desert chickens begins with preparation on the farm Farmers typically scheduled transport during the cooler parts of the day such as early morning or late evening in order to minimize stress on the chickens given the remote locations of many desert farms transportation networks in climate control transport trucks are carefully planned in advance upon arrival at the processing facility the chickens are unloaded and allowed a brief period of rest chickens are then moved to the slaughter area where they are humanely slaughtered according to Industry standards in the United States this often involves stunning the birds in order to render them unconscious before Slaughter in ensuring that the process is done as humanely as possible after stunning the chickens are quickly bled plucked and eviscerated in desert regions where water is a precious resource processing facilities often employ water saving Technologies for instance instead of traditional scolding tanks which require large amounts of water some facilities use dry plucking methods or Steam Bas scorting systems that significantly reduce water usage once the chickens have been fully processed they are thoroughly cleaned and inspected in order to ensure they meet the highest safety and quality standards after processing the chickens are packaged for distribution they are often vacuum sealed or wrapped in airtight packaging to prevent contamination and extend shelf life from there chicken a ship to grocery stores and restaurants across the country as for Desert hens Farmers typically designed chicken CS with well ventilated nesting boxes often shaded or insulated to protect the eggs from the intense heat eggs are collected multiple times a day to prevent them from overheating once collected they are carefully inspected for cracks or defects and then cleaned using dry or minimal water methods to conserve resources in many cases eggs are also graded based on size and quality after cleaning and grading the eggs are packaged in temperature controlled environments in order to maintain freshness packaging often involves materials that protect the eggs from both heat and physical damage during transport the eggs are then transported in climate control vehicles to ensure they reach markets and consumers in optimal conditions preserving the quality and taste of desert raised eggs Mongolia is a paradise for those who love nature and freedom it is twice the size of Texas and is one of the last remaining nomatic Nations on Earth Mongolian herd ERS live in portable tents called G with an average herd of around 300 animals with over 65% of the country covered in vast Serene grasslands Mongolia is home to an astonishing population of nearly 70 million livestock predominantly sheep goats and cattle Mongolian Nomads migrate seasonally relying on natural cues such as the instinctive movements of swans and the changing mountains in order to sustain their livelihoods these farmers are harvesting hay in a field 300 km from mongolia's Capital Anan Batar this hay does not grow naturally but was cultivated in order to provide livestock with food during the winter which lasts around 4 months most people will move to the lower elevations in order to avoid the cold which is becoming increasingly harsh due to climate change the livestocks of Mongolia have evolved to have thick fur and Heights with small humps as well as long thin horns to be able to withstand temperatures as low as -50° C or droughts in some areas but every few years more than 7 million livestock tragically dies due to the devastating natural phenomenon of blizzard s these are accompanied by droughts known as dessert in Mongolia scattered across the country more than onethird of mongolia's population live as nomatic herders just as how their ancestors have lived since 3000 BC when you live in nature you've got to live by Nature's rules as the snow gradually melts and the first tentative signs of spring begin to emerge the nomadic Mongolians embark on the next migration in April on the backs of horses and camels they give each livestock a checkup to ensure they are regaining their health well after the snowy Winter the baby livestock are also given special care and wind this is often when the Mongols hold a small ceremony to show gratitude to the ancestors for helping them to survive the harsh winter in the summer grass grows more abundantly but the Mongolian herders still move the cows a lot in order to give the pasture time to regrow and prevent worm infestation for the livestock they can't graze on the same pasture for two consecutive years the ojim Quin cow is a popular dairy cow raised by the Mongols it can produce 500 to 600 L of milk during its lactation period of 5 months inside this jur is where the pneumatic families live and make various products from their livestock such as fermented milk and dried meat the livestock stay close to the jur at night and leave the jur in the morning to graze around freely they Ro freely and the cow herds check their location and numbers every few days while Urban dwellers may feel feel the need to guard against other humans these pneumatic Mongols face a different type of danger the cunning grey wolf and the elusive snow leopard and helping with this task for generations and all year round is the Mongolian bankar livestock Guardian dogs summertime in Mongolia is also a time for celebration as it marks the Annual nadam Festival which showcases the nation's press through horse riding archery and wrestling all of these skills are important for nomadic herders who have to hunt down the Predators for the herd and their own sake Early Autumn or late summer is when the Mongols are busiest because they have to move to the Autumn pasture prepare warm clothes and air dry beef for the upcoming winter they make the difficult decision to slaughter the the animals with old age or poor health this is because these animals are less likely to make it through the tough Winters the remaining animals are thrown into a disinfectant bath or used other methods to cure parasites they are then fattened in preparation for winter so they also fed other Foods in addition to Fresh grass from the fields farewell to the nomadic lands of Mongolia we are going 6,000 ft High heading to the mountainous regions of Europe like the Alps and Pyrenees to see how the millions of livestock here are raised on the fresh Green Pastures in Italy migration has been regulated into a ritual that takes place twice a year with Farmers consistently following the same path and arriving at the same region every season these migration routs are so well established and widely used that they even acquire their own distinctive names known as truri in Italian and this migration tradition is called trans humans in preparation for winter herders will start their migration on these routes in late Autumn this journey could last several days perhaps even stretching into weeks however the ultimate destination remains remarkably consistent throughout generations for example a Shepherd starting from a city in central Italy called laquila would invariably make their way towards fogia in the southern part of the country with a few stops along the way while Italian transan was predominantly focused on the Italian migration of sheep it is not uncommon for cattle or goats as well transhuman Shepherds have their own cozy places to stay both in the summer and winter pastures so they can always be right there with their herds before starting the migration farmers will attach a bell to some selected livestock for easier Management on the road in France Shepherds move their herds to Mountain pastures each summer this allows the Sheep to GR on Fresh grass and prevents overg grazing in one area then the Shepherds will bring the Sheep back to the lower Ling lands for winter the biggest sheep herd recorded in France that migrates seasonally was 7,400 according to the latest report every year there are around 6.3 million livestock including sheep cattle and goats that migrate from place to place here now we're off to a farm in America here amidst the Towering trees and verdant foliage Farmers tend to their cattle in a Serene Forest environment when the trees leaf out they provide gentle shade keeping the area cool for the grazing cattle this also helps to protect the grass from getting too much or too little sunlight in the Eastern United States Cold seasoned grasses are commonly used because they thrive in partially shaded conditions raising cattle this way also provides free fertilizer for the soil and controls weeds naturally this symbiotic farming model is called Silver pasture every 2 to 5 years a controlled burn is done to improve forage quality and reduce parasite load it is estimated that The Staggering 1.36 billion acres of land across the globe are currently dedicated to silvero pasture practices Farmers also Implement rotational grazing practices moving cattle between various pastures for similar purposes approximately 100 to 600 rapidly growing trees are typically planted per hectare in these silver pasture systems cattle can stay in the shade whenever they they want drink water whenever they want and graze wherever they want the farmer doesn't need to spend too much on a barn because the cattle used the forest as a natural shelter to avoid wind and snowy winter and the Heat of the Sun in summer it is estimated the silver pasture is currently practiced on 550 million hectares in the US the diverse diet which includes a variet of grasses Forbes and tree leaves contributes to a rich natural flavor profile and increased marbling the slower growth rate commonly associated with silvero pasture systems allows for better development of muscle fibers resulting in tenderer meat
2024-10-01 13:14
