Gemperle Egg Ranches and sustainable farming
Gemperle Farms and Egg Industry Significantly Reduce Environmental Impact from 1960-2010
A landmark study published in Poultry Science (February 2014) indicated that while US egg production has increased from 1960-2010, the egg industry has significantly reduced its environmental footprint. Researchers from Iowa State University Egg Nutrition Center completed a lifecycle analysis of egg production over the past 50 years, evaluating the environmental impact from growing the crops to feed the chickens through the entire production phase until they leave the farm. The findings are astounding and indicate that the environmental efficiencies are the result of many factors, including reduction of natural resources used, reduction of disease, and improvements in hen housing systems and poultry feed. The study stated that using egg production technology from 1960 would have required 78 million more hens, 1.3 million more acres of corn, and 1.8 million more acres of soybeans.
Steve Gemperle, from Gemperle Farms in Turlock California is not surprised by the findings: “We have worked hard on our environmental efficiencies and sustainable practices the last 50 years that have enabled us to provide low cost, nutritious eggs to feed our growing California population. Every little bit helps, such as reducing our water use, better quality feed, ensuring all of our manure is used for natural fertilizer at nearby farms and providing energy efficient housing for our birds”. “Our healthy California environment is an important component to the health of the California economy”.
“Egg farmers have improved their production practices, allowing them to provide an affordable source of high-quality protein while using fewer resources and producing less waste.” said Hongwei Xin, agricultural and bio systems engineering and animal science professor at Iowa State University, director of the Egg Industry Center and head researcher for the study.
Key Findings of the Lifecycle Study Comparing 1960 to 2010
• In 2010, significantly less polluting emissions, including 71 percent lower Greenhouse gas emissions.
• In 2010 hens used 32 percent less water per dozen eggs produced.
• In 2010 hens use slightly 27% less feed per day
• In 2010 it took 1.98 lbs of feed to produce a pound of eggs vs 3.44 in 1960 (42% better feed conversion)
Main Reasons for the Lower Environmental Footprint
• Hen Housing. Over the past 50 years egg farmers have made tremendous improvements in hen housing such as improved lighting, ventilation, computerized temperature control and safer more secure housing from disease carrying wildlife.
• Feed Efficiency. Improvements in feed nutrition as well as improvements in poultry breeding play a large role in reducing the environmental impact. Young hens require 48% less feed than in 1960. Much less feed is needed today to produce a pound of eggs. The study stated that using egg production technology from 1960 would have required 78 million more hens, 1.3 million more acres of corn and 1.8 million more acres of soybeans.
• Management of Animal Waste has been an important aspect of reducing egg production’s environmental footprint. The majority of chicken manure is used for crop fertilization, as a natural fertilizer providing excellent nutrients for plant to improve soils therefore reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.
Egg farmers today play a crucial role in supplying nutritious, low cost high quality protein to our growing US population. The Population of California has more than doubled in the past 50 years from 15 million to 33 million but the number of hens needed to feed this population has only increased less than 18%.
Bottom Line
Eat more eggs and choose eggs as your top choice of protein and from sustainable responsible farms. If you live in California choose eggs from Gemperle Farms or other sustainable California egg farms.
To read the entire study abstract go to www.poultryscience.org/docs/PS_877.pdf
To read more about Gemperle Farms sustainable practices go to gemperle.com/about/sustainability/
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