Which begs the question, “What’s all the fuss about pasture raised chicken?”
To answer this question, we must first KNOW what “pasture raised” means. Pastured Chicken simply means chickens that have been raised on pasture, within a rotational system, an area covered with grass or other plants suitable for grazing.
Here on the Ridge, it means that our chickens (once mostly feathered and able to graduate from the brooder at around 3 weeks of age) have direct access to 100% spray free pastures within our purpose built and fully mobile chicken chalets.
The chicken chalets allow the birds to fully express their chickeness (scratching, perching, sunbaking, flapping, and dustbathing) safe from harsh weather and predators, at a stocking density that is more than 37% LESS than organic, free range standards.
Our chooks are moved to fresh pasture every day where they are presented with a smorgasbord of bugs, grasses, legumes, organisms, seeds, fresh air and vitamin-D from the sun!
What Pasture Raised Chicken ISN’T
A common misconception is that Pasture Raised Chicken is 100% grass fed. Chickens, like pigs, are omnivores.
This means that they obtain energy and nutrients from both plant and animal matter which is vital for them to receive if they are to obtain optimal health.
While we continually source the very best grains that are free of GMO’s, hormones, vaccinations, and antibiotics, it’s extraordinary expensive to obtain the variety of organic grains needed for a whole diet (with many organic grains being grown in the eastern states of Australia).
We are seeing a positive change with some Western Australian grain growers adopting regenerative practices and so we excitedly anticipate being able to continually improve our chicken feed recipe.
The process
It comes as no surprise then to learn that the meat produced from chickens raised within a regenerative, pasture-based system is much more superior when it comes down to the nitty gritty of vitamin and mineral availability.
Furthermore, the harvesting process is much gentler and kinder with chooks crated, humanely harvested, eviscerated, inspected and packaged all by human hands which is a far cry from the industrialised chicken processing facilities equipped with robotic arms and convey belts, a system so gross that the meat needs to be ‘decontaminated’ with bleach before it’s fit for human consumption.
Health Benefits?
Recently I was reminded again of how blessed we are to produce and access pasture raised meats while I was at a Dr’s appointment for one of my children who needed a referral.
Our GP remarked on the fact that she was so happy to see on their records that my child hadn’t been in for 4 years (interestingly the same time we’ve been farming).
While talking to another friend, I was informed of many cases of ringworm, ear-infections, gastro, covid, pinworms and even scabies that are currently making the rounds.
It really opened my eyes to just how much of a positive impact our diet of locally
sourced fruits and vegetables, and our pasture raised meats are having on our health as a family.
While Pastured Poultry and regenerative chicken farming is still quite new in Australia, our American friends over the pond have been adopting these practices for years and we can get a good gauge on the facts from these sources (American Pastured Poultry Producers Association/APPPA, Poultry Science Association/PSA and trustworthy producers such as Pasture Bird and Polyface Farm to name a few).
Some of the health benefits attributed to consuming pasture raised chicken are:
- 50% more vitamin A than conventionally raised chicken. Vitamin A is vital for a healthy immune system and maintaining good vision. It may also lower the risk of some cancers, supports strong bone health, reduces your risk of acne, and promotes healthy growth and reproduction.
- 50% more vitamin D than conventionally raised chicken. Essential for immune system function, vitamin D supports strong bone health, is associated with mood regulation and could reduce the risk of several chronic health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension, and autoimmune conditions.
- 50% more vitamin E than conventionally raised chicken. An important antioxidant, Vitamin E is used to reduce markers of oxidative stress. Promisingly, Vitamin E may also reduce heart disease risk factors in some people and benefit people with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFD).
- Vitamin E is also an important component to maintaining good skin, eye and cognitive health.
- The meat from chickens raised on pasture also has around 30% LESS saturated fat (the kind that causes inflammation) and significantly HIGHER levels of omega 3 fatty acids (the kind that reduces inflammation).
Since the chooks at Rosa’s Ridge are raised in much cleaner environments on pasture
and are much healthier, and the harvesting taken with great care at Southampton Micro-abattoir there is much less chance of food borne illness like salmonella when consuming pasture raised chicken.
In fact, testing done by Dirty Clean Food (whom we currently supply) showed that a whole, fresh, vac-packed chicken processed at Southampton Homestead could safely be cooked and consumed after 10 days from processing date!
You can also rest assured knowing that our chicken doesn’t contain any antibiotic resistant bacteria since our chooks aren’t and don’t need to be medicated while living their best lives out on pasture. I’m convinced!
How to purchase Pasture Raised Chicken
With society increasingly becoming health conscious, more and more people are wanting to get their hands on good quality foods produced straight from the farmer they know and trust.
And why wouldn’t they with whole foods preferable than popping a pill manufactured and distributed by megacompanies?
When we first started our regenerative farming journey, there was only us and 2 other producers, all starting pastured chicken at the same time in Western Australia (from scratch or after a prolonged break).
In just four years the awareness and availability of Pasture Raised Chicken has increased, with more producers on board. Unfortunately, it’s still very hard for consumers to get pastured chicken.
Either the price is still very exclusive (due to inefficient or unavailable processing,
increasing fuel and feed costs) thus making it difficult to retail product or farmers are busy farming and don’t have the ability to sell their product direct to the consumer.
That’s why we’ve made it our mission to get pastured chicken into the hearts, homes and bellies of every-day Aussies.
10 years ago when I was elbow deep in changing nappies and Sam juggling a mortgage on apprentice wage, there was no such thing as pasture raised chicken in Western
Australia, at least not for us being stuck in the “burbs” and receiving a low income.
While there is always a price associated with ethically and regeneratively grown food, it’s our mission to bridge the gap between the growing cost of living and obtaining nutritious and healing proteins for the average Aussie family.
